2013 Senate Bill 423 / 2014 Public Act 555

Require schools teach American foundational principles; SCHOOL SPENDING "ADEQUACY" STUDY

Introduced in the Senate

June 11, 2013

Introduced by Sen. Patrick Colbeck (R-7)

To require public schools to provide instruction in all grades that focuses on the core principles of the United States, in particular those articulated in the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, the Bill of Rights and other foundational or iconic texts, speeches, etc.

Referred to the Committee on Education

Nov. 14, 2013

Reported without amendment

With the recommendation that the substitute (S-2) be adopted and that the bill then pass.

Dec. 10, 2013

Substitute offered

To adopt a version of the bill that encourages rather than mandates schools to teach foundational principles.

The substitute passed by voice vote

Dec. 11, 2013

Amendment offered by Sen. Hoon-Yung Hopgood (D-8)

To require the state Board of Education to work with two named organizations considered more "establishment" or "center-left" in their orientation (the Michigan Council for Social Studies and the Michigan Center for Civic Education, which includes the amendment sponsor on its board) when it updates curriculum and testing standards to cover these subjects.

The amendment failed by voice vote

Passed in the Senate 27 to 10 (details)

To encourage public schools to provide instruction that focuses on the core principles of the Declaration of Independence, United States Constitution, and State Constitution, and require the state Board of Education to update curriculum and testing standards to cover these subjects.

Received in the House

Dec. 11, 2013

Referred to the Committee on Education

March 19, 2014

Reported without amendment

With the recommendation that the substitute (H-1) be adopted and that the bill then pass.

Dec. 19, 2014

Substitute offered by Rep. Brandon Dillon (D-75)

To delete the previous content of the bill and replace it with a requirement for a public school spending "adequacy" study.

The substitute passed by voice vote

Passed in the House 72 to 38 (details)

To require the state budget agency to contract for a study to determine how much money per student is needed for a public school to educate students sufficiently well to meet state graduation requirements. Democrats have sought this for several years, and reportedly its adoption by a Republican-controlled legislature is in return for Democratic votes on a sales tax increase that is part of a $1.945 billion tax hike for road repairs and other spending.

Received in the Senate

Dec. 19, 2014

Passed in the Senate 20 to 18 (details)

To require the state budget agency to contract for a study to determine how much money per student is needed for a public school to educate students sufficiently well to meet state graduation requirements. Reportedly the bill was adopted Republican-controlled legislature in return for Democratic votes on a sales tax increase that is part of a $1.945 billion tax hike for road repairs and other spending.

Signed by Gov. Rick Snyder

Dec. 31, 2014