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Curriculum Agreement Should Come
Next Week
Gongwer News Service, March 23, 2006
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A final agreement on a new high school curriculum should be
ready for final legislative approval by Tuesday, the chair of
the Senate Education Committee told reporters Thursday.
The two bills creating the new curriculum, HB 5606 and SB 1124,
have been put into House/Senate conference committee. But Sen.
Wayne Kuipers (R-Holland) said discussions have already been
underway on resolving the main issues, which include resolving
how to handle an opt-out provision dealing with students taking
Algebra II and a requirement for study of a foreign language.
Mr. Kuipers said it also appears that the final provision will
establish that the curriculum will affect incoming eighth grade
students.
The Legislature wants to meet a goal of completing work on the
curriculum package before the body goes on spring break, he
said. In addition, it's important to give school districts
enough time to begin preparation for the new curriculum.
Mr. Kuipers said his hope is the final version of the bill will
still require students to "take a run at Algebra II" in some
form instead of opting out of the requirement entirely.
"The business community is telling us for the jobs in the 21st
Century the students have to get those skills," he said.
Reaching an agreement on a requirement for foreign language is
equally important, Mr. Kuipers said. While both houses passed
legislation calling for required credits in English,
mathematics, science, social science and arts, only the Senate
passed a requirement that students get credits in a foreign
language.
Graduation Requirement Agreement Aiming For
Tuesday
MIRS, March 23, 2006
Students gearing up for high school should know whether foreign
language credits will be part of their graduation requirements
by the end of next week.
Sen. Wayne Kuipers (R-Holland), sponsor of the Senate version of
the graduation reform bills, said he expects the House and
Senate to reach an agreement on the requirements by next week.
"It's important to get the deal done so schools know what the
requirements are," Kuipers said.
The Senate quickly voted not to pass their own version of the
bill and added an amendment to the House version of the bill
that would make it identical to the Senate's bill with the hopes
that the House would vote against the bill and the bills would
be sent to conference committee.
Originally, parties involved had hoped to avoid a conference
committee (see related story).
Kuipers' bill, SB 1124, would require students to take two years
of a foreign language. This requirement is not in HB 5606.
Kuipers bill also requires students to take Algebra II, which is
in line with HB 5606 but Kuipers bill has a much stricter
opt-out option.
HB 5606 would allow students to opt out of Algebra II before
they attempt the class. Kuipers bill requires the students to at
least take a "stab at" Algebra II before they can opt out.
Kuipers has said before that immediately telling students they
can opt out of Algebra II before they give it a chance is not
wise because teenagers don't exactly jump at the chance to take
tough classes.
Kuipers has also said that he set up his bill so that students
can be creative with the Algebra II requirement. According to SB
1124, students can take two years to take Algebra II, which
slows down the course content for struggling students. Students
can also earn the credits by taking career and tech classes that
have Algebra II components.
Kuipers said the Senate and House are more in line with the
Algebra II requirement than they are with the foreign language
requirement. Kuipers wouldn't comment on where the two chambers
are on reaching an agreement with the foreign language
requirement but did say the two requirements are "equally
important."
Kuipers plans to meet with the House earlier today and said that
by Tuesday they will "be ready to go with a final product."
One other difference that needs to be ironed out but won't
necessarily cause too many wrinkles is the timeline for the new
requirements' phase in. The House wants to start with next
year's ninth grade class and the Senate wants to start with next
year's eighth graders so the plan can be phased in.
Kuipers was optimistic that the House would go along with the
Senate version of things. The House seemed to like the idea of
eighth graders earning credits early for their high school
classes.
"I think by adding a year, for many students, helps them phase
in in a better way," Kuipers said.
The bills are expected to be in conference committee by tomorrow
but behind the scenes negotiations have already begun.
"The goal is to get the bills on the governor's desk by Easter,"
Kuipers said.
Adair Case Going Back To MI Court of Appeals
MIRS, March 22, 2006
The Michigan Supreme Court this month bounced the school-funding
case "Adair" back to the state Court of Appeals after the
justices ordered the appellate judges to reconsider whether
former Gov. John ENGLER ordered all school districts to start
giving the state "new data" so certain student test scores could
be posted on the Internet.
The case is known as Durant IV because it's the fourth
high-profile suit in which school districts claimed the state
violated the Headlee Amendment by dumping new responsibilities
on them without the money for it. In the first three cases, the
plaintiff's name was Durant.
The fourth was spurred by Executive Order 2000-9 when Engler
created the Center for Education Performance Standards (CEPI)
with the understanding that it has broad powers to require
school districts to submit data. The state argues these "new"
reports were always required. The fact that it wanted these
reports electronically shouldn't be considered an expense that
triggers the Headlee Amendment.
The Court of Appeals ruled in August (See "Appeals Court Shoots
Down 'Durant IV,'" 8/5/05) that the increased cost wasn't for a
"new activity or service." The Supremes felt the appellate court
failed to conduct a "fact-finding" mission on whether the school
districts really need to buy new computers, facilities and
equipment to meet this CEPI data requirement.
"We are pleased the Supreme Court recognized the merits of the
plaintiffs' position and has required the Court of Appeals to
reconsider the requirements placed on schools as additional —
and currently unfunded — mandates," said Adair attorney Dennis
POLLARD.
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