May 29, 2007, Introduced by Reps. Hoogendyk, Palmer, Marleau, Agema, Calley, Meekhof, Nitz, Amos, Sheen and Robertson and referred to the Committee on Education.
A bill to establish a higher education enrollment option grant
program for certain students; to prescribe certain duties of public
schools; and to prescribe certain powers and duties of certain
postsecondary educational institutions and state departments,
officials, and agencies.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:
Sec. 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the
"Michigan accelerated college education act".
Sec. 3. As used in this act:
(a) "Authority" means the Michigan higher education assistance
authority created by 1960 PA 77, MCL 390.951 to 390.961.
(b) "Community college" means a community college established
under the community college act of 1966, 1966 PA 331, MCL 389.1 to
389.195, or under part 25 of the revised school code, 1976 PA 451,
MCL 380.1601 to 380.1607, or a federal tribally controlled
community college located in this state that is recognized under
the tribally controlled community college assistance act of 1978,
Public Law 95-471, and is determined by the authority to meet the
requirements for accreditation by a recognized regional accrediting
body.
(c) "Eligible charges" means tuition and mandatory course
fees, material fees, and registration fees required by an eligible
postsecondary institution for enrollment in an eligible program.
Eligible charges also include any late fees charged by an eligible
postsecondary institution due to the authority's failure to make a
required payment according to the timetable prescribed under this
act. Eligible charges do not include transportation or parking
costs or activity fees.
(d) "Eligible postsecondary institution" means a state
university, community college, or independent nonprofit degree-
granting college or university that is located in this state and
that chooses to comply with this act.
(e) "Eligible program" means a program of study offered by an
eligible postsecondary institution leading to a bachelor degree or
associate degree.
(f) "Eligible student" means an individual who meets the
eligibility requirements described in section 5(1).
(g) "School district" means that term as defined in section 6
of the revised school code, 1976 PA 451, MCL 380.6, a local act
school district as defined in section 5 of the revised school code,
1976 PA 451, MCL 380.5, or a public school academy organized under
part 6a of the revised school code, 1976 PA 451, MCL 380.501 to
380.507.
(h) "State university" means a state institution of higher
education described in section 4, 5, or 6 of article VIII of the
state constitution of 1963.
Sec. 5. (1) An individual who meets all of the following may
attend an eligible postsecondary institution without completing
high school:
(a) He or she meets any of the following at the time he or she
is first admitted to an eligible postsecondary institution under
this act:
(i) Is enrolled in but has not yet graduated from a high school
operated by a school district in this state.
(ii) Attends a strict discipline academy established under
sections 1311b to 1311l of the revised school code, 1976 PA 451, MCL
380.1311b to 380.1311l.
(iii) Attends an alternative education program operated by a
school district and described in section 1310, 1311, or 1311a of
the revised school code, 1976 PA 451, MCL 380.1310, 380.1311, and
380.1311a.
(iv) Is not currently enrolled in a high school, strict
discipline academy, or alternative education program, and was an
at-risk pupil, as defined in section 1631a of the state school aid
act of 1979, 1979 PA 94, MCL 388.1631a, when he or she was last
enrolled in a school in a school district in this state.
(v) Was medicaid eligible for 24 months within the 36 months
before he or she is first admitted to the eligible postsecondary
institution.
(b) He or she is at least 15 and less than 19 years of age.
(c) He or she has successfully completed at least 1/2 of the
credits required for the award of a high school diploma under
sections 1278a(1) and 1278b(1) of the revised school code, 1976 PA
451, MCL 380.1278a and 380.1278b, or received an overall score in
the top 25% of a nationally recognized college admission
examination that measures English language arts, mathematics,
reading, and science and is used by colleges and universities in
this state for entrance or placement purposes.
(d) He or she is admitted to and enrolled in the eligible
postsecondary institution as a full-time student in an eligible
program.
(2) Upon request by an eligible student or an eligible
postsecondary institution, the school district in which the
eligible student attended high school shall provide to the eligible
student, the authority, and the eligible postsecondary institution
a letter signed by the student's high school principal indicating
the student's eligibility under subsection (1)(a) and (c).
Sec. 7. (1) An eligible student shall receive a grant from the
authority, payable directly to the eligible postsecondary
institution, for the number of semesters, trimesters, or quarters
of full-time enrollment at that postsecondary institution
determined under subsection (2). Subject to adjustment under
subsection (6), the amount of a grant is an amount equal to the
lesser of the amount of the eligible charges for the semester,
trimester, or quarter in which the student is enrolled, and 1 of
the following amounts:
(a) If the eligible program in which the student is enrolled
is conducted in semesters, $1,750.00.
(b) If the eligible program in which the student is enrolled
is conducted in trimesters, $1,167.00.
(c) If the eligible program in which the student is enrolled
is conducted in quarters, $875.00.
(2) The following are the maximum number of semesters,
trimesters, or quarters of full-time enrollment at an eligible
postsecondary institution for which an eligible student may receive
a grant under subsection (1):
(a) For an eligible student who attended high school for 4 or
fewer semesters, 4 semesters or an equivalent number of trimesters
or quarters.
(b) For an eligible student who attended high school for 5
semesters, 3 semesters or an equivalent number of trimesters or
quarters.
(c) For an eligible student who attended high school for 6
semesters, 2 semesters or an equivalent number of trimesters or
quarters.
(d) For an eligible student who attended high school for 7
semesters, 1 semester or an equivalent number of trimesters or
quarters.
(e) An eligible student who graduated from or attended high
school for 8 or more semesters may not receive a grant under this
act.
(3) After an eligible student's first semester, trimester, or
quarter of enrollment in an eligible program, the authority is not
required to pay a grant described in subsection (1) in any
semester, trimester, or quarter if the student did not maintain a
grade point average of at least 2.0 in the preceding semester,
trimester, or quarter. This subsection does not reduce the total
number of semesters, trimesters, or quarters described in
subsection (1) in which the student is entitled to receive a grant
under this section.
(4) An eligible student is responsible for payment of the
remainder of the costs associated with his or her enrollment in the
eligible postsecondary institution that exceed the amount of his or
her grant under this section.
(5) This act does not restrict the ability of an eligible
student or any other pupil to enroll in any postsecondary
institution without meeting this act.
(6) In any state fiscal year, the legislature in its annual
appropriations act appropriating money for the authority may adjust
the amount of the maximum grant available to eligible students
eligible under subsection (1) based upon its determination of
available resources.
Sec. 9. (1) Unless otherwise agreed between an eligible
postsecondary institution and the authority, after the expiration
of the postsecondary institution's period for dropping or adding
courses in the eligible program in each semester, trimester, or
quarter for which the authority is required to make a grant payment
under section 7, the eligible postsecondary institution shall
provide written notice to the authority of the amount of eligible
charges for the eligible program in which the student is enrolled.
The authority shall make the grant payment within 30 days of
receiving the notice.
(2) An eligible postsecondary institution shall not charge a
late fee to an eligible student or the authority for a grant paid
in compliance with the time period described in subsection (1) even
if the payment would otherwise be considered late by the
postsecondary institution.
Sec. 11. (1) An eligible postsecondary institution may refuse
to admit an eligible student if it determines that student may not
understand the consequences of failing or not completing the
eligible program in which the eligible student intends to enroll;
the effect of enrolling in the eligible program on the student's
ability to receive a high school diploma; or the academic and
social responsibilities that the student and his or her parent or
guardian assume by enrolling in the institution as a full-time
student.
(2) Within a reasonable time after registration, an eligible
postsecondary institution shall send written notice to an eligible
student and his or her former school district indicating the
eligible program in which the eligible student is enrolled. The
eligible postsecondary institution shall notify the eligible
student about tuition, fees, books, materials, and other related
charges, as determined by the eligible postsecondary institution,
in the customary manner used by the eligible postsecondary
institution, and shall notify the eligible student of the amount of
the eligible charges that it included in the notice to the
authority under section 9(1).
(3) To the extent possible, an eligible postsecondary
institution shall provide counseling services to an eligible
student and his or her parent or guardian after the eligible
student enrolls in the institution as a full-time student to ensure
that the eligible student and his or her parent or guardian are
fully aware of the benefits, risks, and possible consequences of
attending the institution. The person providing the counseling
shall encourage the eligible student and his or her parent or
guardian to also use available counseling services at the eligible
postsecondary institution before enrollment to ensure that the
student's anticipated plans are appropriate. An eligible
postsecondary institution may provide the counseling required under
this section in a group meeting if additional personalized
counseling is also made available.
Enacting section 1. This act does not take effect unless
Senate Bill No.____ or House Bill No. 4856(request no. 00765'07 a)
of the 94th Legislature is enacted into law.