FOREIGN LANGUAGE REQUIREMENT                                                       H.B. 5793 (H-1):

                                                                               SUMMARY OF HOUSE-PASSED BILL

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

House Bill 5793 (Substitute H-1 as passed by the House)

Sponsor:  Representative Lisa Posthumus Lyons

House Committee:  Education

 

CONTENT

 

The bill would amend the Revised School Code to do the following:

 

 --    Specify that the foreign language requirement under the high school Michigan Merit curriculum would apply beginning with pupils who entered grade 3 in 2006 (i.e., those who will graduate from high school in 2016).

 --    Allow pupils who graduate from high school in 2016 through 2021, rather than 2015 through 2020, to fulfill part of the foreign language requirement through career and technical education (CTE), or through arts instruction beyond that required by the Merit curriculum for all pupils.

 

Under the Code, the board of a school district or board of directors of a public school academy may not award a high school diploma to a pupil unless he or she has successfully completed during grades K to 12 at least two credits in a language other than English or substantially equivalent course work or other learning experiences. Under the bill, this provision would apply beginning with pupils entering grade 3 in 2006.

 

Currently, for pupils who graduate from high school in 2015 through 2020, a pupil may partially or fully fulfill one credit of the foreign language requirement by completing a formal CTE program or curriculum or by completing additional visual or performing arts instruction. Under the bill, this provision would apply to pupils graduating in 2016 through 2021.

 

MCL 380.1278a                                                             Legislative Analyst:  Julie Cassidy

 

FISCAL IMPACT

 

The bill would have no fiscal impact on the State.

 

Under the current language in the Code, beginning with pupils entering third grade in 2006, meeting foreign language requirements is necessary to receive a diploma. However, Public Act 208 of 2014, which will be effective on the 91st day after the end of this legislative session, removes the "entering grade 3 in 2006" language. This bill would restore that language, thereby ensuring no change to the grade level or age subject to the foreign language requirements.

 

Therefore, the bill would have no fiscal impact on local units of government as it would return the policy to the standards under which districts have been operating.

 

Date Completed:  9-23-14                                             Fiscal Analyst:  Kathryn Summers

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.