Senate Bill 451 Summary

• School districts must ensure all public schools are accredited by meeting standards in six areas: administration, curricula, staff, facilities, community relations, and school improvement plans.

• Accreditation standards are developed by the Department of Education, reviewed through statewide public hearings, and approved by legislative education committees before implementation.

• Schools can achieve "summary accreditation" based on student performance on MEAP tests and Michigan Merit Examination without requiring a full building-level evaluation.

• Schools unaccredited for 3 consecutive years or failing federal performance standards for 5+ consecutive years in school districts with at least 60,000 pupils must be reorganized to meet specific requirements including enrollment of 125-500 pupils, class sizes under 16, relationship-based learning, and college-preparatory curriculum.

• High schools must provide or ensure access to all curriculum elements required under sections 1278a and 1278b to be accredited beginning with the 2008-2009 school year.