SHARED TIME ENROLLMENT FOR HOME-SCHOOLED AND NONPUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS; REIMBURSEMENT
House Bill 4378
Sponsor: Rep. Joanne Voorhees
House Bill 4379
Sponsor: Rep. Paul DeWeese
Committee: Education
Complete to 3-16-01
A SUMMARY OF HOUSE BILLS 4378 AND 4379 AS INTRODUCED 2-27-01
The bills would provide for shared-time enrollment of, and reimbursement for, home-schooled and nonpublic school students under certain conditions.
House Bill 4378 would amend the State School Aid Act (388.1606 and 388.1766b) to allow a parent or legal guardian to enroll a student in a school district or intermediate school district, in any of that district's curricular offerings. More specifically, for a minor enrolled in a nonpublic school, or who was being home-schooled, this would apply to enrollment in a core academic course only if that enrollment was with the approval of the board of the district, or of the intermediate board of the intermediate district in which the minor enrolled. Under the bill, transportation for a minor enrolled under this provision would not be required, unless otherwise specified in the Revised School Code.
In addition, if a district or intermediate district established any policies, requirements, or limitations for enrollment in a curricular offering under this provision, school officials would be required to apply those policies, requirements, and limitations equally to both full-time students and to nonpublic or home-schooled students.
Finally, under the bill a minor enrolled in a nonpublic school or being home-schooled who was also enrolled part-time in a district or public school academy would be counted as a part-time pupil, and also counted toward determining the district's, the intermediate district's, or the public school academy's fulltime equated membership on the same basis as any other part-time pupil.
House Bill 4379 would amend the Revised School Code (MCL 380.5 and 380.1561) to specify that a parent or guardian of a minor who was enrolled in a nonpublic school, or who was being home-schooled, could also enroll the minor in a school district, intermediate school district, or public school academy in any curricular offering that was available to students at that grade level or age group.
Under the bill, the enrollment would have to meet the same requirements that apply to a full-time pupil's participating in the offering, subject to Section 166b of the State School Aid Act
(MCL 388.1766b). [Section 166b concerns conditions under which a school district is provided state school aid for part-time pupils who are minors being home-schooled or enrolled in nonpublic schools.] Further, if a school district, intermediate school district, or public school academy established any policies, requirements, or limitations for enrollment in a curricular offering, school officials would be required to apply them equally to both fulltime students and minors enrolled or seeking to enroll under the shared time provisions.
Finally, the bill specifies that its provisions would not require transportation for a minor enrolled under the shared time provisions, unless otherwise required under the act.
House Bill 4379 also would amend the definition of "membership" found in the Revised School Code. Currently "membership" means the number of full-time equivalent pupils in a public school as determined by the number of pupils registered for attendance plus pupils received by transfer and minus pupils lost as defined by rules promulgated by the state board of education. Under the bill, the rules would be promulgated by the superintendent of public instruction rather than the state board. Further, the definition of "membership" would specify that a nonpublic school student who is enrolled part-time in a school district or intermediate school district would be considered a part-time pupil and would be counted toward determining the school district's or intermediate school district's full-time equated membership on the same basis as any other part-time pupil.
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This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.