Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill creating new standards and restructuring guidelines for schools.

Highlights:

-Allows the authorizing body of a failing public school academy to revoke the school's contract and close down the school (Sec. 507). -Provides for the creation and funding of 'Turnaround Schools', each one of which would be partnered with an individual failing school, would be authorized by a state educational facility, and would operate in the same district as a failing school (Sec. 531). -Prohibits 'Turnaround Schools' from being organized by or affiliated with a religious organization (Sec. 532). -Authorizes the State Superintendent of Public Instruction to appoint a school reform/redesign officer to take charge of a school designated as 'failing', with all the powers previously assigned to the school board (Sec. 1280c). -Defines a failing school as one that has been unaccredited or has failed to achieve the federal pupil performance standard for all pupils for four consecutive years, and in which the percentage of pupils enrolled in the public school who scored at least 'proficient' in both mathematics and English language arts in the most recent Michigan Education Assessment was less than the designated percentage (Sec. 1280c). -Establishes a process to identify and restructure failing schools (Sec. 1280c). -Requires the Department of Education to publish a watch list of public schools that are in danger of meeting the criteria of a failing school (Sec. 1280c). -Mandates the establishment of a High-Performing School Review Team to evaluate public school academies in this state and similar public schools in other states to identify persons or entities that operate high performing public schools (Sec. 1280c).

Full Bill Text

Highlights:

Project Vote Smart staff and volunteers are working hard to produce a clear and accurate summary of the contents of the bill. At this time, we have posted the voting record for HB 4787 so you can see how the office holder representing you has voted on this piece of legislation. We will have a detailed summary available as soon as possible. For further status information, call the Voter's Research Hotline at 1-888-VOTE-SMART (1-888-868-3762).