SCHOOL DISTRICT MUST SPEND 65 PERCENT

FOR CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION

House Bill 4975

Sponsor:  Rep. Jacob Hoogendyk, Jr.

Committee:  Education

Complete to 5-23-06

A SUMMARY OF HOUSE BILL 4975 AS INTRODUCED 6-21-05

House Bill 4975 would amend the Revised School Code to require that at least 65 percent of a school district's general operating budget for the school fiscal year be expended for instruction. 

Under the bill, "instruction" would mean that term as defined by the National Center for Education Statistics, and includes an activity dealing directly with interaction between pupils and teachers or other classroom and instructional personnel, tutors, books, computers, general instruction supplies, instructional aides, and learning support staff such as librarians, and also includes school activities such as field trips, athletics, arts, and multi-disciplinary learning.

Under the bill, if a school district were not in compliance with this requirement, then the board would have to ensure that the percentage of the general operating budget spent on instruction be increased by at least two percentage points each school fiscal year until the district was in compliance.  Not later than June 1 of each year, the board would be required to submit its proposed budget to the superintendent of public instruction, along with documentation verifying compliance.

If the school district determined that it could not comply for a fiscal year, the board could request the governor to grant a waiver.  To obtain a waiver, the board would be required to submit to the state superintendent a written request, accompanied by a written action plan, no later than June 1. The state superintendent would be required to promptly evaluate the request and action plan, and make a recommendation to the governor concerning the granting of a waiver. The governor would make the final decision whether to grant or deny the waiver, and would have to do so within 30 days after receipt of a waiver request.  Any waiver granted would be valid for one year, and could be renewed upon submission of a new request.

MCL 380.1215

FISCAL IMPACT:

HB 4975 would create an indeterminate cost increase for the department due to administrative costs associated with implementing the oversight requirements of this proposal.

 

Local school districts also could see an indeterminate increase in administrative costs associated with complying with the requirements of this proposal.

                                                                                           Legislative Analyst:   J. Hunault

                                                                                                  Fiscal Analyst:   Mary Ann Cleary

                                                                                                                           Bethany Wicksall

■ This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.