Charter School Cap Elimination One Step Closer

Following a committee composition change on Tuesday which replaced Representative Holly Hughes (R-Montague) with Representatives Jon Bumstead (R-Newaygo) and Lisa Posthumus Lyons (R- Alto) on the House Education Committee, the panel approved Senate Bill 618, lifting the cap on university-based charter schools. Rep. Hughes has reportedly not supported the measure.

The measure had passed the Senate earlier this fall as part of the GOP’s education reform package. The final vote on the bill was 11-6 with Republican Representative Tom Hooker (R-Byron Center) voting “nay” with the panel’s Democratic members.

This was newly appointed House Education Committee Chair Representative Tom McMillin’s (R-Rochester) first meeting with the gavel and the debate became heated almost immediately. Multiple exchanges took place between Committee Democratic Vice Chair Lisa Brown (D-Bloomfield Township), Representative Rudy Hobbs (D-Lathrup Village) and McMillin over procedural aspects, such as the order in which amendments were addressed; however, the Chair closed the hearing with comments clearly intended to attempt to mend any hard feelings resulting from the day’s debate.

McMillin also announced his intention of forming a subcommittee on education quality standards.

posted by PAA Online , Friday, December 2, 2011 10:14 AM
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