Senate Bill 925 Summary

• Creates "Schools of Excellence" as a new type of public school academy that can be authorized by school districts, intermediate school districts, community colleges, or state public universities under new Part 6e.

• Establishes eligibility requirements for entities seeking to operate Schools of Excellence, including a 3-year track record of operating highly-rated public school academies in Michigan or another state, with alternative pathways allowing up to 25 new contracts per year for less-experienced operators.

• Authorizes cyber schools (online learning institutions) as a category of Schools of Excellence with specific provisions including minimum 1,098 annual instructional hours, qualified teacher oversight of courses, and priority enrollment for local residents when authorized by school districts or intermediate school districts.

• Requires Schools of Excellence to comply with open meetings and freedom of information laws, conduct annual financial audits, prohibit tuition, ban admission discrimination, and maintain accountability through performance contracts with oversight by authorizing bodies.

• Includes modifications to pupil expulsion procedures (Section 1311) to exempt students engaged solely in remote instruction and learning from home at cyber schools from mandatory expulsion requirements for weapons possession or other violations.