GRANTING ACADEMIC CREDIT FOR

INTERNSHIPS

House Bill 4106 (proposed substitute H-1)

Sponsor:  Rep. Beau Matthew LaFave

Committee:  Workforce and Talent Development

Complete to 11-6-17

SUMMARY:

House Bill 4106 would amend the Revised School Code to require the board of a school district or board of directors of a public school academy (PSA, or charter school) to grant high school credit to students in grades 9 through 12 who complete an eligible internship or work experience.

Students could receive high school credit if they attend the internship for at least 4 hours per week for the same duration of weeks that the student would attend a traditional course for credit.

Students could not receive credit if the student has received a failing grade in more than one school course in grades 9 through 12 unless the school board or board of directors determines that receiving a credit for an internship is in the student's best interest.

Under the bill, a school board or board of directors could not require a student to attend an internship for more than 10 hours per week. Also, with permission from the student's parent or guardian, the board or board of directors must ensure that the student attending an internship is excused for at least 1 hour of class time each day that the student attends an internship.

If a student does not complete an eligible internship due to health or safety concerns, a school board or board of directors must grant the student the credit expected upon completion of the internship and assist the student in obtaining another eligible internship, at the student's request.

The bill defines the following term:

Eligible internship: a paid or unpaid internship or work experience with an employer that complies with any applicable general liability coverage requirements of the Worker's Disability Compensation Act of 1969.

The bill would take effect 90 days after enactment.

Proposed MCL 380.1279h

BACKGROUND:

The Michigan Department of Education (MDE) lists in its 2017-2018 Pupil Accounting Manual the requirements which must be met in order for a student completing a work based learning experience (WBLE), apprenticeship, or internship to be counted in the membership of a school district. In contrast, HB 4106 lists the requirements which must be met in order for the district or charter school to award high school credit for an internship or work experience. Several of these requirements are similar to those in the bill—notably, that the internship meet certain worker's disability compensation requirements. However the manual allows up to 24 hours of work per week while school is in session; the bill would limit schools to requiring 10 hours of work per week for the purpose of receiving credit.

Currently, other states are also considering similar types of internship opportunities to students. In Indiana, the Graduation Pathways Panel, established by Indiana HB 1395 (2016), will soon recommend to the Indiana Department of Education that certain changes be made to the state's "graduation pathways." Potential recommendations thus far have included an internship or other applied work experience as a requirement for graduation.[1] The panel will present its final recommendations in November of 2017.

FISCAL IMPACT:

The bill would have no fiscal impact for the state, but there could be an indeterminate, but likely minimal, cost increase for school districts or PSAs. 

School districts and PSAs could incur added administrative and operational expenses to exercise oversight of a pupil’s internship or work experience.  Additionally the bill could create costs by requiring a district to assist pupils in finding a new internship experience if they leave an eligible internship due to egregious health or safety concerns.  The cost would be based on the extent to which the bill’s proposed changes increased pupil participation. Participation requirements under the bill would be less stringent than currently required in the Michigan Pupil Accounting Manual so participation and related costs could increase. 

                                                                                        Legislative Analyst:   Dana Adams           

                                                                                               Fiscal Analysts:   Bethany Wicksall

                                                                                                                           Samuel Christensen

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

---