2003 Senate Bill 393 ↩

Senate Roll Call 280: Passed

To increase from 150 to 350 the total number of charter schools (public school academies) that can be created by universities, and impose new regulations, disclosure requirements and oversight provisions on charter schools, the education management companies with which they may contract, and the institutions which issue the charters. The bill would remove the ability of Bay Mills Community College to create an unlimited number of charters by placing it under the university charter cap. Bay Mills technically serves Indian students across the state, so can establish charters anywhere in the state. The bill would increased from five to 25 the total number of charter high schools. It would authorize an additional 15 urban high schools in Detroit. Language in the bill makes the intention clear that these would be created by philanthropist Robert Thompson, who has promised to donate up to $300 million for the purpose. Many of the regulatory and reporting requirements which apply to regular schools would also be applied to charters. Charters would be required to have a school board appointed by the authorizing institution, and could borrow and bond, but not pledge the credit of the state to secure the debt.