This bill requires Michigan school districts and public academies receiving specific weighted funding to use those funds for student achievement, including literacy, math, and direct English language development instruction. To qualify for this aid, districts must administer standardized English proficiency tests, implement a data-driven multi-tiered support system for all grades, and report detailed information to parents and the state department about how the money is spent. The legislation also mandates that districts allow state audits of their records and permits up to 2% of the funds to cover administrative costs related to compliance. Importantly, the bill will only take effect if a companion bill establishing the specific funding formula is also passed into law.
HB 5630 allocates funding for Michigan's public K-12 schools and community colleges for fiscal years 2026-2027. It provides $18.37 billion for K-12 schools from the state school aid fund, general fund, and other education trust funds, plus $493 million for community colleges across 12 institutions. The bill specifies exact funding amounts for each community college's operations and includes provisions for unused funds to transfer to a stabilization fund. This omnibus appropriations bill directly affects all public school districts and community colleges statewide by setting their state funding levels for the next two fiscal years.
HB 5338 requires Michigan's education department to develop a brief, one-class-period presentation about organ, eye, and tissue donation - including information about the Michigan Organ Donor Registry - by January 1, 2027. Starting in the 2027-2028 school year, public schools are encouraged to provide this presentation to students before they complete 9th grade. Parents or legal guardians may request their child be excused from the presentation without penalty. The bill does not mandate school participation but ensures the presentation is created in consultation with the state's organ procurement organization.
HB 5081 requires Michigan school districts, intermediate districts, and public school academies to employ at least one teacher trained in the Orton-Gillingham approach by the 2026-2027 school year to support students with dyslexia. This teacher must have completed training meeting International Dyslexia Association standards, which emphasizes multisensory reading instruction through phonemic awareness, phonics, and structured skill-building. Schools must also ensure these teachers receive at least 10 hours of annual professional development focused on dyslexia support. The bill directly affects all public school entities in Michigan and aims to improve specialized reading instruction for students with dyslexia.
This bill modifies Michigan's school code to strengthen reading instruction by requiring the state education department to approve specific screening assessments and develop a formal literacy coach model. The legislation mandates that literacy coaches support teachers in using evidence-based strategies for decoding and word recognition while explicitly prohibiting them from performing administrative duties or holding regular classroom teaching assignments. Additionally, the bill directs the department to provide technical assistance on Individual Reading Improvement Plans, establish dyslexia expertise by September 2025, and update dyslexia resource guides every five years. These changes directly affect school districts, public school academies, and educators by setting new standards for reading assessment, intervention, and professional support roles.
This bill requires Michigan school districts and public academies to adopt elementary reading curricula from a list approved by the state education department. To support this goal, the legislation mandates that the department approve specific reading assessments designed to monitor student progress while minimizing disruptions to instructional time. Additionally, the bill outlines detailed duties for district literacy coaches, ensuring they focus on evidence-based reading instruction and data analysis rather than administrative tasks. These changes aim to help more third-grade students achieve proficient scores on state English language arts assessments through structured curriculum adoption and targeted teacher support.
This bill requires teacher preparation programs in Michigan to include specific training on the science of reading and dyslexia by September 2027. Programs preparing educators for reading, language arts, special education, or school psychology roles must teach evidence-based methods grounded in structured literacy for students with dyslexia and for the general student population. The legislation also mandates that all teacher training programs cover the characteristics of dyslexia, its secondary effects on learning and behavior, and how to use multi-tiered support systems in classrooms. If a program does not focus on these specific subject areas, the state department may grant a waiver for some requirements, provided the waiver is reviewed every two years.
This bill requires Michigan school districts and public academies to administer the Presidential Fitness Test starting in the 2026-2027 school year. The law mandates that schools follow the specific guidelines and strategies outlined in a recent federal executive order. By adding a new section to the state's revised school code, the legislation ensures that all public schools operate under this standardized fitness assessment.
HB 5364 requires Michigan's state board of education to obtain legislative approval - via a concurrent resolution from both the state Senate and House - before revising the state's recommended academic curriculum standards. The bill directly affects school districts, the state board, and legislators by preventing changes to standards without formal legislative consent. Key provisions include prohibiting standards from including "attitudes, beliefs, or value systems" unrelated to academic learning, while maintaining existing requirements for standards covering subjects like history (including genocide education) and assessments focused solely on academic skills. The bill does not alter current standards but changes the process for future updates. It is currently pending in the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
SB 495 requires Michigan public schools, districts, and academies to develop and biennially review comprehensive emergency operations plans. These plans must address school violence, threats, fire, intruders, mental health training for teachers, security improvements, active violence protocols, and pupil reunification. The bill mandates that plans include specific guidelines listed in subsection (3), such as vulnerability assessments and protocols for wireless device use during emergencies. It applies directly to all public school buildings and requires collaboration with local law enforcement agencies.
