2008 House Bill 5765

Extend Detroit School District special treatment

Introduced in the House

Feb. 19, 2008

Introduced by Rep. Bettie Cook Scott (D-3)

To reduce from 100,000 to 75,000 the number of students that qualify a school district as a “school district of the first class.” Detroit is the only such district, which is a statutory device to prohibit an expansion of charter schools in the city, allow the Detroit School District to be exempted from some regulations that apply to other districts, and to subject it to some regulations that don't apply to other districts. The Detroit district has lost tens of thousands of students in recent years, and is expected to fall below the 100,000 threshold soon.

Referred to the Committee on Education

Dec. 3, 2008

Reported without amendment

With the recommendation that the substitute (H-1) be adopted and that the bill then pass.

Dec. 4, 2008

Substitute offered

To replace the previous version of the bill with one that further lowers the "first class" threshold to 60,000 students.

The substitute passed by voice vote

Passed in the House 59 to 42 (details)

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 is a statutory device to prohibit an expansion of charter schools in the city, allow the Detroit School District to be exempted from some regulations that apply to other districts, and to subject it to some regulations that don't apply to other districts. The Detroit district has lost tens of thousands of students in recent years, and is expected to fall below the 100,000 threshold soon.

Received in the Senate

Dec. 10, 2008

Referred to the Committee on Education