bill

With a conference committee meeting scheduled for Thursday, Michigan schools will come a step closer to finding out what their per pupil allotments will be for the 2008-09 fiscal year. Indications are schools can expect increases in the range of $56 to $112 for each student, and there will be some funding set aside for Governor Jennifer Granholm's proposal to combat school dropouts by building smaller high schools.

Sen. Mickey SWITALSKI (D-Roseville) wants to amend the state constitution so 16-year-olds can vote for school board members, a proposal he admits probably won't go very far very fast, but is worth a shot in recognition of the efforts of his younger constituents.
If adopted by two-thirds of the House and Senate, Michigan voters could give more high school students the right to vote in school board elections. They could not vote for ballot initiatives, statewide office, federal office or bond issues.

It looks like Rep. Joel SHELTROWN (D-West Branch) would need to get enough votes to override a veto if he hopes to see his bill, HB 5943, get enacted.

HB 5943 would create a dual diploma system for "students who don't fit the mold for going on to college".

"We're not in support of lowering standards," Granholm Press Secretary Liz BOYD told MIRS today. "We fought for more a rigorous curriculum and our support for that continues."

FOR BACK GROUND: http://mymassp.com/content/dual_diploma_plan_coming_being_introduced_any...

The Safe Schools Coalition jammed the rotunda today to demand action on anti-bullying bills that passed the House last year.
The measure is called "Matt's Safe School Law," named after Matt EPLING, an East Lansing eighth-grader who took his own life in 2002 after severe hazing incidents. HB 4162 and HB 4091 are before the Senate Education Committee and activists called on Sen. Wayne KUIPERS (R-Holland) to take them up.