SCHOOL YEAR START; AUGUST LIMITS                                                             S.B. 271:

                                                                     REVISED SUMMARY OF INTRODUCED BILL

                                                                                                         IN COMMITTEE

Senate Bill 271 (as introduced 3-23-17)

Sponsor:  Senator Marty Knollenberg

Committee:  Education

Date Completed: 10-16-17

CONTENT

The bill would amend the Revised School Code to delete provisions under which a school district or public school academy (PSA) may not begin its school year before Labor Day; and specify that a district's or PSA's schools could not be in session, and a district's or PSA's employees would not have to work, on any Monday or Friday in August.

The Code requires the board of a school district or intermediate school district (ISD) or board of directors of a PSA to ensure that the district's or PSA's school year does not begin before Labor Day (the first Monday of September). If a school district, ISD, or PSA began operating a year-round school or program after September 29, 2005, it may apply to the Superintendent of Public Instruction for a waiver from the requirement. In addition, the requirement does not apply to a public school that operates all of grades 6 to 12 at a single site, aligns its high school curriculum with advanced placement courses as a capstone of the curriculum, and ends its second academic semester concurrently with the end of the advanced placement exam period. The bill would delete these provisions.

The bill would require the board of a school district or ISD or the board of directors of a PSA to ensure that its schools were not in session on the Friday before Labor Day. (This was required under the Code until the provision disallowing a pre-Labor Day school year start applied.)

In addition, the bill would require the board of a school district or ISD or board of directors of a PSA to ensure that the following were met: a) the district's or PSA's schools were not in session on any Monday or Friday in August, and b) the district's or PSA's employees were not required to report to work on any Monday or Friday in August.

MCL 380.1284b                                                                Legislative Analyst:  Jeff Mann

FISCAL IMPACT

The bill would have no impact on State or local government.

                                                                                        Fiscal Analyst:  Cory Savino

This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.