This Senate Resolution (SR 88) requests Governor Whitmer to join the federal Tax Credit Scholarship Program for K-12 education. The resolution directly addresses the governor, asking her to opt-in to a federal program that would allow Michigan taxpayers to receive a $1,700 tax credit for donations to scholarship organizations. These organizations would then provide tax-free scholarships to K-12 students in Michigan public and private schools, starting in 2027. The resolution is non-binding and seeks to encourage state participation in the federal program, which Michigan has not yet elected to join.
HB 5428 amends Michigan's school aid law to clarify rules for virtual courses. It allows students in grades 6-12 to take up to two virtual courses per term without special approval, with exceptions requiring district determination of the student's best interest. School districts must publish virtual courses in district or statewide catalogs, provide mentors for enrolled students, and cover costs using foundation allowance funds (capped at 6.67% of target foundation allowance). The bill also lists specific, non-negotiable reasons districts may deny virtual course enrollment (e.g., grade level, insufficient prerequisites, or course quality) and requires written denial notices with appeal processes.
HB 5312 amends Michigan's School Code to set new tuition limits for nonresident students attending public schools. It limits K-6 tuition to 25% above the district's average daily operation cost per student (excluding building costs), and grades 7-12 tuition to 12.5% above 115% of that same cost. The bill requires districts to use the previous fiscal year's operation costs and membership data for calculations. It also specifies that these rules expire after July 1, 2026, when schools must follow different rules under another law, and notes the bill only takes effect if two companion bills (HB 5310 and HB 5311) also pass. This directly affects school districts setting tuition rates and nonresident families paying those rates.
HB 5376 would create a property tax exemption for Michigan homeowners without children enrolled in public schools or publicly funded educational services (K-12) in the state. Starting in 2027, eligible property owners would receive a phased reduction in school-related property taxes: 40% in 2027, increasing to 100% by 2031. To qualify, owners must provide proof (like a withdrawal letter or affidavit) that no dependents used public education, and the exemption excludes properties owned through private entities where the actual owner has school-aged children. The bill specifically targets school millages (taxes funding schools), not general property taxes, and requires local assessors to verify eligibility using state education data.
HB 4469 amends Michigan's Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act to allow K-12 public and private schools subject to Title IX (federal education law) to base athletic participation eligibility on a student's biological sex as listed on their original birth certificate. This specifically exempts schools from the state's anti-discrimination law when determining sports team placement for students in grades K-12. The provision directly affects K-12 educational institutions, enabling them to use birth certificate sex as the criterion for athletic eligibility rather than other factors. The bill creates a clear policy change by overriding the general anti-discrimination protections in the civil rights law for this specific athletic context.
HR 127 is a resolution urging the U.S. Department of Labor to reverse its decision to pause all Job Corps center operations by June 30, 2025, with specific focus on the Detroit center. It directly affects approximately 217 enrolled youth at the Detroit Job Corps Center, who were reportedly told to leave immediately on May 30, 2025, with reports of some facing homelessness. The resolution cites the program’s 60-year history of providing career training, high school completion, and wraparound services (like mental health support) to disadvantaged youth aged 16-24. It emphasizes that the sudden pause disrupts critical services for Detroit youth and communities, as 321 Michigan participants were enrolled at the Detroit center as of 2023. The resolution has no binding effect but formally requests the Department of Labor reverse its operational pause.
HB 4416 amends Michigan's revised school code to establish new guidelines for unenrolling students. The bill prohibits public and nonpublic schools from unenrolling a student solely because another school requested their records. Instead, schools must receive written confirmation of a student's enrollment from their new school before officially unenrolling them. This confirmation must include specific details like the student's name, date of birth, grade level, the new school's information, and a signature from an authorized official.
HB 4553 strengthens Michigan school immunization requirements by prohibiting schools from accepting less stringent exemption rules than state standards. It requires children enrolling in public or nonpublic schools (or entering grade 7 for the first time) to submit one of three documents: a physician’s immunization statement, a parent/guardian religious exemption form, or a physician’s compliance-in-progress statement. The bill also mandates annual reporting of student immunization and vision screening status (for kindergarten) to health departments. It directly affects all Michigan schools, parents/guardians of enrolled students, and local health departments responsible for data reporting. The bill is tied to companion legislation (HB 4552) and is currently in committee referral.
SB 378 requires Michigan public schools to receive annual letter grades (A-F) starting in the 2025-2026 school year based on five specific metrics: student proficiency in math and English language arts, student growth in those subjects, progress for English language learners, high school graduation rates, and academic performance compared to similar schools. The grades are assigned by the state education department using defined measures, such as growth from fall to spring assessments or maintaining proficiency. This directly affects all public schools in Michigan by publicly reporting their performance across these standardized indicators. The bill does not change school funding or operations but creates a new transparency framework for reporting school performance.
This resolution urges Congress to maintain funding for the Federal TRIO programs, which support low-income, first-generation college students, and individuals with disabilities. It highlights that TRIO provides academic tutoring, counseling, financial guidance, and other assistance through eight specific programs (like Upward Bound for high school students and the McNair Program for doctoral preparation). The resolution responds to a proposed budget cut that would eliminate all TRIO funding, potentially affecting over 880,000 participants annually, including 6,000 veterans. The measure has been introduced and referred to committee but does not create new law.
