House Education Committee Chairman Representative Tom McMillin (R-Rochester) has indicated that he believes the committee will be ready next week to vote on Senate Bill 619, legislation to lift the current cap on cyber schools. The Committee has deliberated on the legislation for weeks, including two hours of testimony this week.
The legislation, sponsored by Senator Patrick Colbeck (R-Canton), removes the 1,000-pupil maximum enrollment at the currently two permitted Michigan cyber schools. Additionally, the measure would remove the cap of two total cyber schools and expand the scope of the schools beyond only at-risk and urban populations. They originally made the move as a portion of the 2009 application for Federal “Race to the Top” funding.