HB 4157 creates a pilot program for a state-administered assessment system in Michigan public schools, replacing the current M-STEP testing. It requires item analysis for all tests (showing which questions students answered correctly and common mistakes) and mandates that districts use only student enrollment data from the time of testing when calculating school performance scores. The bill allocates $500,000 for an online tool to provide secure, immediate access to student-level assessment data for educators and parents. This bill directly affects public school districts receiving state aid and their students in grades 11-12, as it modifies assessment requirements under the State School Aid Act.
HB 4345 creates an exception allowing Michigan school districts to skip required instructional days without facing penalties when closing due to a declared state of emergency. This directly affects school districts and students by providing flexibility during emergencies like natural disasters or public health crises. The bill amends existing law to remove the penalty for missing minimum instructional days during such closures, ensuring districts aren't financially punished for following emergency protocols. The law took effect immediately upon the Governor's approval on June 2, 2025.
HB 4162 allocates $17.77 billion in state and federal funds for Michigan's K-12 public schools for the 2025-2026 fiscal year, primarily from the state school aid fund and other designated trust funds. It sets a new target per-student funding level of $10,025 and establishes a formula to calculate each school district's foundation allowance based on the previous year's funding, inflation (using the Consumer Price Index), and the target amount. School districts with funding below the target receive adjusted increases, while those above the target see smaller raises tied to inflation. The bill directly affects all public school districts by determining their state funding allocation through this updated formula.
HB 4152 requires Michigan teacher preparation programs (and alternative teaching programs) to include specific training content starting September 30, 2027, to gain or maintain state approval. The bill mandates instruction on dyslexia characteristics, consequences, instructional adjustments, and multi-tiered support systems (MTSS), with additional evidence-based reading methods required for programs preparing teachers in reading, language arts, or special education. Programs focused on math or science must develop curricula in consultation with subject-matter experts. These requirements apply directly to institutions training future educators, with waivers possible for non-relevant programs under specific conditions.
Senate Bill 320 establishes the "Student Opportunity Scholarship Act," creating a program to provide scholarships for eligible K-12 students in Michigan. The program targets students from lower-income households, those with disabilities, or children in foster care. Nonprofit Scholarship-Granting Organizations (SGOs) would administer individual Student Opportunity Scholarship (SOS) accounts, funded by tax-creditable contributions. These funds can be used for a variety of approved educational expenses, including public or nonpublic school tuition, online learning, tutoring, textbooks, and educational technology. The scholarship amounts vary based on factors like the student's current enrollment and disability status.
HB 4829 requires Michigan public high schools to implement a mandatory 2-semester constitutional literacy course for students entering high school in the 2026-2027 school year. The course must cover U.S. founding documents, government structures (including the Bill of Rights and state constitution), historical development of republicanism, and comparisons to other governance systems, while banning instruction on the 1619 Project and requiring specific historical examples of communist regimes. Schools must ensure teachers do not present materials contrary to the Constitution, with violations resulting in $5,000 fines, immediate termination, and teaching certificate suspension. This bill directly affects all public high school students and educators in Michigan starting with the 2026-2027 academic year.
HB 4259 amends the Student Safety Act by updating key definitions to clarify the law's scope. It specifies that "school" includes all public, private, denominational, and parochial schools serving kindergarten through 12th grade, and "school property" covers buildings, fields, and school buses. The bill also defines the "hotline" as a statewide system for reporting safety concerns via phone, text, or online. These changes ensure consistent application of the Student Safety Act for all schools and safety reports. The bill requires concurrent passage of HB 4258 to take effect.
HB 4156 amends Michigan's high school graduation requirements for diplomas. It modifies mathematics credit rules by allowing students to fulfill algebra II requirements through approved career and technical education programs (e.g., engineering, computer science) that cover equivalent content, rather than solely through traditional math courses. The bill also clarifies social science requirements, specifying that students entering grade 8 before 2023 may satisfy the economics credit with a personal economics course containing financial literacy, while maintaining core history and civics requirements for all students. These changes directly affect Michigan high school students and school districts by altering diploma eligibility criteria.
HB 4580 allocates funding for Michigan's public universities during the 2025-2026 fiscal year. It amends specific sections of Michigan law (MCL 388.1836 and 388.1841) to establish the budget for higher education institutions. The bill directly affects public universities by providing their state funding for the upcoming fiscal year. It passed the House with strong support (56-41) and is now moving to the appropriations committee for further review.
Senate Bill 321 proposes changes to Michigan's Income Tax Act for individuals. The bill aims to create an income tax credit for contributions made to scholarship-granting organizations. It also seeks to establish a tax deduction for funds distributed to student opportunity scholarship accounts. These provisions are intended to incentivize financial support for educational scholarships. However, the specific details regarding the eligibility, amounts, and operational mechanisms of these new credits and deductions are not present in the provided truncated bill text.
