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• Introduced by Rep. Bettie Scott (D) on January 22, 2009, to reduce from 100,000 to 60,000 the number of students that qualify a school district as a “school district of the first class.” Detroit is the only such district, which among other things is a statutory device to prohibit an expansion of charter schools in the city. The Detroit district has lost tens of thousands of students in recent years, and is fell below the 100,000 threshold last fall. Note: The 2008-2009 School Aid budget included a provision lowering the threshold to 60,000. This bill would amend the state School Code statute.
  • Referred to the House Education Committee on January 22, 2009.
    • Reported in the House on March 19, 2009, with the recommendation that the substitute (H-1) be adopted and that the bill then pass.
  • Substitute offered in the House on April 2, 2009, to replace the previous version of the bill with one that doesn't change the pupil count threshold in statute, but does allow Detroit to retain its “school district of the first class” until July 1, 2010 despite falling below that threshold. The substitute passed by voice vote in the House on April 2, 2009.
• Passed 71 to 38 in the House on April 2, 2009, to allow Detroit to retain its “school district of the first class” until July 1, 2010, despite the fact that its pupil count has fallen below the level that defines this status. Detroit is the only such district, which among other things is a statutory device to prohibit an expansion of charter schools in the city.
  Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"
• Received in the Senate on April 21, 2009.
  • Referred to the Senate Education Committee on April 21, 2009.