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Public Act 203 of 2009
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- Introduced by Sen. Samuel B. Thomas, III (D) on October 20, 2009, to authorize “transition payments” to a school district in which one or more of the “schools of excellence” charter schools proposed by Senate Bill 925 were established and enrolled at least 2 percent of the students in the district. The school district would get 80 percent of the money it would have got for those students in the first year, 60 percent in the second year, and 40 percent in the third year. If more of these charter-like schools opened later the district could get more state money.
- Referred to the Senate Education Committee on October 20, 2009.
- Reported in the Senate on December 2, 2009, with the recommendation that the substitute (S-5) be adopted and that the bill then pass.
- Substitute offered in the Senate on December 2, 2009, to replace the previous version of the bill with one that would also create a teacher performance "identifier" system that matches individual teachers to student performance data. This is one of the reforms needed to make eligible for some $400 million in federal "race to the top" grants. The substitute passed by voice vote in the Senate on December 2, 2009.
- Amendment offered by Sen. Nancy Cassis (R) on December 2, 2009. The amendment failed by voice vote in the Senate on December 2, 2009.
- Referred to the Senate Education Committee on October 20, 2009.
- Passed 23 to 13 in the Senate on December 2, 2009, to authorize “transition payments” to school districts where “schools of excellence” charter schools proposed by Senate Bill 925 were established to replace failing schools and enrolled at least 2 percent of the students. The school district would get 80 percent of the money it would have got for those students in the first year, 60 percent in the second year, and 40 percent in the third year. The bill would also create a system to match teachers with student performance data.
Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No" - Received in the House on December 2, 2009.
- Referred to the House Education Committee on December 2, 2009.
- Substitute offered by Rep. Tim Melton (D) on December 10, 2009, to replace the previous version of the bill with one that does not contain the supplemental payments to school districts with "schools of excellence" charters. The substitute passed by voice vote in the House on December 10, 2009.
- Amendment offered by Rep. Tim Melton (D) on December 10, 2009, to eliminate the "tie-bars" that link this bill to others in the "Race to the Top" package. The amendment passed by voice vote in the House on December 10, 2009.
- Passed 102 to 4 in the House on December 10, 2009, to create a teacher performance "identifier" system that matches individual teachers to student performance data, and also establish a system for responding to teacher complaints that they lack supplies.
Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No" - Received in the Senate on December 10, 2009.
- Failed 0 to 30 in the Senate on December 10, 2009, to concur with a House-passed version of the bill. The vote sends the bill to a House-Senate conference committee to work out the differences.
Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No" - Received in the House on December 19, 2009, to adopt a compromise version of the bill reported by a House-Senate conference committee. This would create a teacher performance "identifier" system that matches individual teachers to student performance data, and also establish a system for responding to teacher complaints that they lack supplies. Passed 93 to 6 in the House on December 19, 2009.
Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No" - Received in the Senate on December 19, 2009. Passed 24 to 7 in the Senate on December 19, 2009.
Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No" - Motion in the Senate on December 19, 2009, to give the bill immediate effect. The motion passed 26 to 3 in the Senate on December 19, 2009.
Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No" - Signed by Gov. Jennifer Granholm on January 4, 2010.
Most Recent Comments
1) Re: 2009 Senate Bill 926 (Authorize limited charter school expansion ) by Admin003 on December 3, 2009
Senator Cassis, under her constitutional right of protest (Art. 4, Sec. 18), protested against the passage of Senate Bill No. 926.
Senator Cassis’ statement is as follows:
Senate Bill No. 926, the (S-6) version, in its intent provides state aid funding for schools of excellence. I concur with this intent; however, reinsertion of section 29 in the (S-6) version, that was removed in committee yesterday, sends a seriously flawed and blatantly wrong message by continuing payments to schools of failure. More than 2 percent of district students make their exodus out. In other words, the state would reaffirm a school district continuing to fail its students for three more years up to seven years, not just the four in statute. Should it take more than four years to turn around a school that is failing its students? I think not.
The cost to maintain transitional funding is not only staggering, but in this school funding crisis is both blatantly unfair and inequitable. Significantly, rewarding failing schools takes away funding for those schools which are achieving. The Senate Fiscal Agency’s warning of the costs is chilling, and I quote: “The bill will impose a fairly substantial cost to the state. In one scenario, it is up to $66 million.” The last time I read an analysis like this one was in reference to the 40 to 42 percent subsidized grants or rebates to Hollywood producers—currently, at least $100 million—which is one of the reasons why dollars for classrooms are being cut. I’m glad I voted “no” then and that I voted “no” again today.
As a former educator, I see absolutely no reason or rationale to reward failure. What incentive is there to improve when you protect these schools, their administration, and their teachers from making educationally-sound outcome changes? Again, the bottom line is the state fails our kids, especially those in schools of failure. Let me add, in my opinion, this undermines courageous leaders like Robert Bobb and others in their reform efforts. Keeping additional funding for failure schools after students leave these schools, rewards failure and will help to defeat Michigan’s application for Race to the Top—an important, valid reform effort that is so badly needed right now.
Reply
Introduced in the Senate on October 20, 2009, to authorize “transition payments” to school districts where “schools of excellence” charter schools proposed by Senate Bill 925 were established to replace failing schools and enrolled at least 2 percent of the students. The school district would get 80 percent of the money it would have got for those students in the first year, 60 percent in the second year, and 40 percent in the third year. The bill would also create a system to match teachers with student performance data
The vote was 23 in favor, 13 opposed and 2 not voting
(Senate Roll Call 646 at Senate Journal 0)
Click here to view bill details.
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