Signed by Governor Gretchen Whitmer

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that expands access to virtual courses at parental request due to health concerns or to remedy academic deficiencies, among other provisions.

Highlights:

• Requires virtual courses to be published in the catalog of board-approved courses and made available to pupils in the same form and manner that a catalog of in-person courses is made available to pupils (Sec. 21f).

• Authorizes a primary district to enroll an eligible pupil in up to two virtual courses as requested by the pupil, and requires, to the extent practicable, that the enrollment process for virtual courses be the same as the process for in-person courses (Sec. 21f).

• Specifies that pupils who are emancipated minors or are not at least 18 years of age must obtain consent from their parent or legal guardian to enroll in a virtual course (Sec. 21f).

• Authorizes a pupil to be enrolled in more than two virtual courses under certain circumstances, including (Sec. 21f): 

• The primary district has determined that it is in the best interest of the pupil, the pupil agrees with the recommendation of the primary district, and the primary district, in collaboration with the pupil, has developed an education plan that is kept on file by the primary district;

• The pupil exhibits an academic deficiency and tests below grade level in one or more subjects on the Michigan student test of educational progress, and the virtual course is designed to remedy this deficiency; or

• In the 2020-2021 school year only, the pupil’s parent or legal guardian requests the pupil’s enrollment in more than two virtual courses due to health, safety, and welfare concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Requires pupils who enroll in one or more virtual courses at parental or legal guardian request, to participate in all state-administered and district-administered assessments (Sec. 21f).

• Authorizes a pupil’s primary district to deny enrollment for reasons including, but not limited to (Sec. 21f):

• The pupil is enrolled in grades K to 5 and the virtual course is not aligned to age-appropriate academic standards for that grade level;

• The pupil has previously gained credits that would be provided from the completion of the virtual course;

• The virtual course is inconsistent with the pupil’s remaining graduation requirements;

• The pupil has not completed the prerequisite coursework for the virtual course; or

• The pupil has failed a previous virtual course in the same subject during the 2 most recent academic years, except in the case of a pupil enrolled in a virtual course intended to remedy an academic deficiency.

• Requires providers of virtual courses to ensure that the quality and rigor of the virtual course is at least equal to that of an in-person course before offering the virtual course in its catalog of courses, and that virtual courses in a core academic subject or that would fulfill one or more of the credit requirements of the Michigan merit standard are aligned to the appropriate state content standards established by the department (Sec. 21f).

• Requires payment for virtual courses provided by a community college or state public university to be an amount equal to the lesser of the amount of the eligible charges or the prorated percentage of the statewide pupil-weighted average foundation allowance (Sec. 21f).

• Defines “eligible charges” as tuition and mandatory course fees, material fees, registration fees, and any late fees due to the primary district’s failure to make a required payment (Sec. 21f).

• Specifies that the requirements under this section concerning virtual courses do not apply to virtual courses offered as part of a program for e-learning days adopted or renewed by a school district (Sec. 21f).

Full Bill Text