NO GRADE 4 FOR STUDENTS WHO ARE NOT

PROFICIENT IN READING AFTER GRADE 3

House Bill 5111

Sponsor:  Rep. Amanda Price

Committee:  Education

Complete to 10-29-13

A SUMMARY OF HOUSE BILL 5111 AS INTRODUCED 10-29-13

House Bill 5111 would amend the Revised School Code (MCL 380.1 et al) to specify that, beginning in the 2014-2015 school year, a student could not enroll in grade 4 without passing the grade 3 state reading assessment. 

Specifically, the bill says that if a student who was enrolled in grade 3 in a school district or public school academy did not achieve a score of at least proficient in reading on the grade 3 state assessment, then the board of the school district or the board of directors for the charter school would have to ensure that the student was not enrolled in grade 4 until proficiency on the grade 3 assessment was achieved.

Also, under the bill, if a child sought to enroll for the first time in a school district or charter school in grade 4, then school officials would be required to prohibit enrollment unless the student had achieved at least a proficient score in reading on the grade 3 state assessment.

FISCAL IMPACT:

The bill could result in increased costs to the state and to local school districts.  To the extent that students were retained in grade 3, it would increase the number of pupils in local school districts.  Generally, the added school operating costs paid through the foundation allowance would be borne by the state in the School Aid budget (because existing local operating millage revenue would be spread over a greater number of pupils, thus decreasing the local per pupil revenue and increasing the required state share per pupil necessary to fully fund foundation allowances).    For FY 2013-14, the minimum foundation allowance is $7,076 (including a $50 equity payment) and the maximum state guaranteed foundation allowance is $8,049.  Each district's mix of state and local funding varies depending on local non-homestead property values and pupil memberships.

                                                                                           Legislative Analyst:   J. Hunault

                                                                                                  Fiscal Analyst:   Bethany Wicksall

                                                                                                                           Karen Shapiro

■ 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.