The State Senate concurred Thursday in the version of Senate Bill 618 approved Wednesday by the House, sending the measure to the desk of Michigan Governor Rick Snyder, who is expected to sign it into law and end the long debate over a cap on university-authorized charter schools.
Wednesday’s House session brought the significant action on the measure, which eventually passed 58-49. Sources indicated that more than a dozen Republicans had expressed displeasure with the measure; however, the final vote included only five Republican “no” votes – Representatives Mike Callton (R-Nashville), Ed McBroom (R-Vulcan), Paul Muxlow (R-Brown City), Phil Potvin (R-Cadillac), and Sharon Tyler (R-Niles). Democratic Representative Shanelle Jackson (D-Detroit) voted “yes.”
The enrolled version of the measure, as amended by the House, phases in the cap elimination over four years, rather than completely eliminating the current 150 charter school cap immediately. The cap will increase to 300 by the end of 2012, 500 at the end of 2014 and be completely gone by the beginning of 2015.
The legislation was not given immediate effect so, upon signature by Governor Snyder, will take effect 90 days following the Legislature’s late December sine die adjournment.