[nfbmi-talk] Agenda for the BSBP Commission forBlindPersonsmeeting July 18, 2013

Fred Wurtzel f.wurtzel at att.net
Sun Jul 28 16:07:10 UTC 2013


Hello Terry,

I agree with your points, here.  I can also understand how some may become
so discouraged with the state of things. that any action may seem futile.
Some people may choose to direct their energy into areas wher it may be
possible to really makd a difference.

The feelings of abject discouragement must be resisted, as powerful as they
are.  It is not good enough for us to sit at home and send out endless
emails full of vitriol for others and even our friends.  We must, as we
discussed at our national convention, get up out of our chairs and act.  We
must wear out our shoe leather, burn political capital, and act mindfully,
strategically and with forethought and in concert with others who can build
a force that will eventually have effect.

I applaud you and Joe for your efforts, along with those who you are working
with to begin to organize a forceful and powerful effort which will reach
from the roots of the out of control blind-hating administration to the top
of the tree with its rotten and poisonous fruit which is strangling out
creative and constructive voices in our community.  There are a lot of
people who will join with us to make this happen.  We need a coherent and
planned relentless effort that will not stop until improvements are in
plkace and will stay.

Again, thanks to you and all who are helping.

Warm Regards,

Fred

-----Original Message-----
From: nfbmi-talk [mailto:nfbmi-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Terry
D. Eagle
Sent: Sunday, July 28, 2013 7:14 AM
To: 'NFB of Michigan Internet Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [nfbmi-talk] Agenda for the BSBP Commission
forBlindPersonsmeeting July 18, 2013

Who cares or what does it matter if Mr. Rodgers does or does not have
friends in the governor's office?  Mr. Rodgers and his corrupt friends
believe they are all above the law, and can misappropriate and misuse funds
appropriated for services for the rehabilitation of blind and disabled
persons to advance their political agenda, and pay back those who made
political contributions from the business community.  Just follow the money
from the political campaigns, not to mention the secret donors, to the
rehabilitation money for blind persons ATM for sighted persons. .  Also, Mr.
Rodgers and his corrupt neighborhoodies believe because they are alledgedly
sworn officers of the courts, as alledged licensed attorneys, the law does
not apply to Mr. Rodgers and his neighborhoodies.

The corruption will continue as long as the affected citizenry sits back
feeling helpless and hopeless, and a victim of the system--OUR GOVERNMENT,
not Mr. Rodgers and his neighborhoodies' empire.  Believe it or not, they
work for us and are our servants, not the other way around.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Christine Boone" <christine_boone at comcast.net>
To: "NFB of Michigan Internet Mailing List" <nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Friday, July 26, 2013 10:23 AM
Subject: Re: [nfbmi-talk] Agenda for the BSBP Commission for 
BlindPersonsmeeting July 18, 2013


But Ed Rodgers says he has friends in the Governor's office.

On Jul 17, 2013, at 8:43 AM, joe harcz Comcast <joeharcz at comcast.net> wrote:

> Can BSBP start a charter school for the blind under this law:
>
> (Short answer is NO!"
>
> JOe
>
>
> Rev. January 2012
>
> Michigan Charter Schools -Questions and Answers
>
> GENERAL 
>
............................................................................
......................................................... 
> 1
>
> STARTING A CHARTER SCHOOL 
>
............................................................................
................ 
> 3
>
> WORKING WITH AN AUTHORIZER 
>
............................................................................
............ 
> 4
>
> EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM/SUPPORT SERVICES 
> ................................................................. 4
>
> ENROLLMENT 
>
............................................................................
................................................. 
> 6
>
> FACILITIES 
>
............................................................................
...................................................... 
> 7
>
> FINANCE 
>
............................................................................
.......................................................... 
> 8
>
> PROBLEMS/CONCERNS 
>
............................................................................
............................... 
> 10
>
> START-UP FUNDING 
>
............................................................................
.................................... 
> 11
>
> STAFFING 
>
............................................................................
...................................................... 
> 12
>
> AUTHORIZERS 
>
............................................................................
............................................... 
> 13
>
> SERVICE PROVIDERS 
>
............................................................................
................................... 
> 15
>
> CHARTER SCHOOL BOARDS 
>
............................................................................
...................... 
> 16
>
> SPECIAL EDUCATION 
>
............................................................................
.................................. 
> 17
>
> GENERAL
>
> 1. What is a public school academy (PSA)? Pursuant to the Revised School 
> Code (RSC), also known as Public Act 451 of 1976 , a PSA is a
>
> state-supported public school under the state constitution, operating 
> under a charter contract
>
> issued by a public authorizing body [RSC §380.501(1)]. PSAs are also 
> commonly referred to as
>
> charter schools.
>
> Charter schools may include grades K-12 or any combination of those 
> grades. They may not
>
> charge tuition and must serve anyone who applies to attend up to 
> enrollment capacity; that is,
>
> they may not screen out students based on race, religion, gender, or test 
> scores. Students are
>
> selected randomly for admission if the number of students applying exceeds

> the school's
>
> enrollment capacity [RSC §380.504(2)]. Charter teachers must be certified 
> and "highly qualified"
>
> as defined in the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) 
> [§380.505(1)]; charter
>
> school students are assessed annually as part of the Michigan Education 
> Assessment Program
>
> (MEAP), and charter schools are required to administer other state 
> mandated assessments such
>
> as the Michigan Merit Exam (MME) and the English Language Proficiency 
> Assessment (ELPA).
>
> Charter schools cannot be religiously affiliated [RSC §380.502(1)].
>
> 1
>
> 2. What laws govern the establishment and operation of a Michigan charter 
> school? Part 6A of Michigan's Revised School Code was adopted to allow for

> the establishment of PSAs
>
> in Michigan (MCL 380.501 et seq). Following this change, three additional 
> sections of law were
>
> added to provide for the establishment of two additional categories of 
> charter schools:
>
> ? Urban High School Academies (UHSAs) chartered under MCL 380.521 - 
> 380.529,
>
> commonly referenced as Part 6C of the Revised School Code. These schools 
> can only
>
> be authorized by state public universities. ? Schools of Excellence (SOEs)

> chartered under MCL 380.551 -380.561, commonly
>
> referred to as Part 6E of the Revised School Code. Schools of Excellence 
> are established
>
> as either (1) a replication of a high performing school (2) a cyber school

> or (3) a
>
> conversion of a 6A school based on criteria that define superior academic 
> performance. ? Strict Discipline Academies (SDAs) chartered under the 
> Revised School Code (MCL
>
> 380.1311b - 380.1311l). SDAs are established for the purpose of serving 
> suspended,
>
> expelled or incarcerated young people. In December 2011, the state 
> legislature passed Public Act 277, which contained numerous
>
> amendments to sections 6A, 6C and 6E. Collectively, PSAs, UHSAs, SOEs and 
> SDAs are called
>
> charter schools throughout the remainder of this document. While UHSAs and

> SDAs are defined
>
> as charter schools under certain sections of Michigan law, these entities 
> have some unique
>
> statutory features. Individuals and organizations interested in developing

> schools in any of
>
> these three categories should review the documents available at 
> www.michigan.gov/charters,
>
> and then contact the MDE Public School Academies unit at (517) 373-4631 
> with specific
>
> questions.
>
> 3. Who may apply for a charter? Any parent, teacher, group or entity may 
> apply for a charter. Please refer to question 6 (below)
>
> for more details.
>
> 4. How are charter schools funded? All charter schools are funded through 
> the State School Aid Act [1979 PA 94, as amended, Article
>
> 1 §388.1606(6)(1)]. A charter school receives funding through the 
> per-pupil base foundation.
>
> By law, this amount may not exceed the per-pupil base foundation received 
> by the local school
>
> district where the charter school is geographically located [1979 PA 94, 
> as amended, Article 2
>
> §388.1620(6)].
>
> 5. Does a charter school qualify for state and federal grant funds in the 
> same manner as a local
>
> school district? Yes, a charter school may access state and federal grants

> in the same manner as local school
>
> districts. [RSC §380.504a(f)] Various factors apply to the eligibility of 
> charter schools and school
>
> districts to apply for grants.
>
> 2
>
> STARTING A CHARTER SCHOOL
>
> 6. What steps are needed to start a charter school? A charter school must 
> be chartered by the governing board of a public body that is authorized to
>
> issue charter contracts pursuant to Michigan law. In Michigan, an 
> "authorizing body" means any
>
> of the following, pursuant to RSC §380.501(1):
>
> . State Public University . Community College . K-12 Local Education 
> Agency (Traditional School District) . Intermediate School District (ISD) 
> . Two or more of these public agencies exercising power, privilege, or 
> authority jointly
>
> pursuant to an interlocal agreement However, not all potential authorizers

> take advantage of the opportunity to issue charters. The
>
> list of authorizers of current authorizers is located at the MDE PSA unit 
> website
>
> (www.michigan.gov/charters) at the Directories and Lists link.
>
> This does not preclude charter school developers from requesting 
> consideration from other
>
> potential authorizers . At this time there is a cap imposed on the number 
> of charter schools that
>
> state public universities may authorize. This cap expires as of December 
> 31, 2014. There is no
>
> cap imposed on any other type of authorizers, but those authorizers are 
> only able to issue
>
> charters to schools that will be organized and operated within the their 
> specific geographic
>
> boundaries [§380.502(2)(d)].
>
> Information regarding "Steps to Starting a Charter School" can be accessed

> via the National
>
> Charter School Resource Center website:
>
> http://www.charterschoolcenter.org/priority-area/starting-charter-school/
>
> Interested developers should review and become familiar with all of the 
> materials on the MDE
>
> PSA website before embarking on the charter school development journey.
>
> (www.michigan.gov/charters)
>
> 7. May private schools become charter schools? Private schools may become 
> charter schools only if they cease operating as a private entity,
>
> obtain a charter from a qualified authorizer, and re-open as a public 
> school that meets all the
>
> requirements of state law. (Additional information on this can be found 
> within the 2011
>
> Federal Charter School Program Nonregulatory Guidance located as a link at

> the MDE PSA
>
> website.)
>
> 3
>
> 8. May a charter school be religiously affiliated? No. A charter school 
> must maintain the separation between church and state. If a charter
>
> school is utilizing a building that has religious symbols present, they 
> must be removed or
>
> covered [RSC §380.502(1)].
>
> WORKING WITH AN AUTHORIZER
>
> 9. Which authorizers are accepting charter applications? To determine 
> which authorizers are accepting charter applications, begin with an 
> analysis of
>
> where the proposed charter school will be located. There are multiple 
> eligible authorizers to
>
> work with each development team. The local school district, intermediate 
> school district, and
>
> community college are able to issue charter school contracts within their 
> geographic
>
> boundaries.
>
> The cap on the number of state public university-authorized PSAs has been 
> increased by the
>
> 2011 legislation. As of the writing of this document, a total of 300 
> charters can be issued by
>
> state public universities through December 2012, increasing to a total of 
> 500 through December
>
> 2014 and thereafter, there is no cap. In the meantime opportunities also 
> become available due
>
> to school closures [RSC §380.502(2)(d)] . Bay Mills Community College, 
> which also has statewide
>
> chartering authority, and is not subject to the cap.
>
> 10. How does a developer apply for a charter? Each Michigan authorizer has

> its own process, forms, and requirements. However, the Michigan
>
> Council of Charter School Authorizers (MCCSA) has developed a common Phase

> I charter
>
> application that can help developers plan for the types of questions they 
> will be asked. The
>
> form is available at their website (www.mccsa.us) As chartering 
> opportunities become
>
> available, each authorizer will identify the specific process to be used.
>
> 11. What should be contained in a contract issued to organize and 
> administer a charter school? Please refer to the contract checklist 
> available at the MDE PSA website under Charter School
>
> Authorizers and Vendors section and/or review RSC §380.503(6).
>
> EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM/SUPPORT SERVICES
>
> 12. Are charter schools required to adopt core content standards? Local 
> education agencies and public school academies are required to adopt a 
> model core
>
> curriculum per Section 380.1278 of the Revised School Code.
>
> 4
>
> 13. May a charter school offer a single gender program? A charter school 
> may offer a single gender class or program in which enrollment is limited 
> to
>
> pupils of a single gender if the charter school enrolls students of both 
> genders. The charter
>
> school must also make available to pupils a substantially equal 
> coeducational class or program
>
> and a substantially equal class or program for pupils of the other gender 
> or both genders. In
>
> addition, participation in the single-gender school, class, or program 
> must be voluntary. [RSC
>
> §380.475 and 380.1146 ]
>
> Charter schools that opt to pursue a single-gender program are advised to 
> work very closely
>
> with legal counsel to determine that all aspects of the program are 
> handled appropriately.
>
> 14. May charter schools be granted waivers for rules and regulations? 
> Waivers may be requested for sections of law or rule where the State 
> Superintendent of Public
>
> Instruction has legal authority to grant such a waiver. The request will 
> then go to the Waiver
>
> Review Advisory Committee at the Michigan Department of Education (MDE). 
> If recommended
>
> for approval, it will go to the State Superintendent of Public Instruction

> for approval.
>
> 15. Who provides transportation to a charter school? In general, a charter

> school is considered a local school district and is responsible for 
> following
>
> the same legislative guidelines for transporting students as a local 
> traditional school district,
>
> except that charter schools are not considered districts under 1321, as 
> they have no resident
>
> students. Therefore a charter school may charge for transportation or 
> contract with a 3rd party
>
> vendor who charges for this service. For further information on 
> transportation issues, call (517)
>
> 373-6388 to contact the Office of Grants Coordination and School Support.
>
> 16. Does a charter school have to use certified teachers? Certification 
> requirements for charter school teachers are identical to those of local 
> school
>
> district teachers. Special exceptions are made for a charter school that 
> is authorized by a state
>
> public university or community college that may wish to use adjunct 
> professors to teach charter
>
> school students (refer to Section 380.505).
>
> Charter schools that accept Title I funds also are required to adhere to 
> the "Highly Qualified
>
> Teacher" provisions of the federal ESEA.
>
> 17. Are charter schools required to report immunization on their students?

> If so, how? Charter schools are required to report immunizations. If the 
> charter school is new, then it must
>
> report on all students. If the charter school has been open for more than 
> a year, it must report
>
> only on the newly enrolled pupils. For more information on this topic, 
> please contact the Office
>
> of Grants Coordination & School Support at (517) 373-1122.
>
> 5
>
> 18. Do charter schools have to offer instruction in health and sex 
> education? Charter schools are bound by the same statutory curriculuar 
> requirements as any traditional
>
> school district. Those regulations are found in various sections of the 
> Revised School Code and
>
> School State Aid Act.
>
> ENROLLMENT
>
> 19. May a charter school be selective in its admissions policy? Except as 
> prescribed in law, a charter school may not be selective in its enrollment

> process. It
>
> may not screen out students based on disability, race, religion, gender, 
> test scores, etc. It may
>
> predetermine the ages, grades, and number of students it will serve. A 
> random selection
>
> process must be used if the number of applicants exceeds the school's 
> enrollment capacity.
>
> 20. If a student is enrolled in a charter school during a particular 
> school year, does the student
>
> have to be part of the random selection if the charter school exceeds its 
> enrollment number
>
> the following school year? No, a student is automatically granted 
> enrollment privileges for succeeding school years.
>
> Siblings of admitted students are granted enrollment priority, and 
> children of school employees
>
> and board members may be offered enrollment priority.
>
> 21. If a student voluntarily leaves a charter school, must the student's 
> resident school district
>
> enroll the student? Yes, with the exception of expulsion due to possession

> of weapons, committing arson, or
>
> criminal sexual conduct in a school building or on school grounds, as 
> outlined in the Revised
>
> School Code, MCL 380.1311. Expulsions should be handled on an individual 
> basis.
>
> 20. If a student voluntarily leaves a local school district, must a 
> charter school enroll the student? Yes, with a couple of notable 
> exceptions. A charter school may deny enrollment if has reached
>
> its enrollment capacity for that student's age or grade, or the school's 
> total enrollment cap as
>
> established by the charter contract. It may also deny enrollment if School

> Board policy
>
> stipulates that the school can no longer accept enrollment applications 
> for the current year.
>
> 22. Does a charter school have to enroll a student that has been expelled 
> from another district? A PSA or UHSA does not have to accept the expelled 
> student. The school may choose to enroll a
>
> student who was expelled from their resident district only if the student 
> was not expelled under
>
> the mandatory expulsions sections described below. In the case of SDAs, 
> the acceptance of
>
> expelled or adjudicated students is central to the school's purpose.
>
> It is important to note that Michigan law does provide for permanent 
> expulsion under certain
>
> circumstances. Unless the school district operates or participates in an 
> alternative education
>
> program appropriate for a student expelled pursuant to section 380.1311(2)

> and at the school
>
> 6
>
> district's discretion admits the student to that program or a "strict 
> discipline academy," the
>
> student is expelled from all Michigan public schools. The student cannot 
> be enrolled unless
>
> reinstated pursuant to the provisions discussed below [MCL 380.1311(2)].
>
> A program operated for expelled students must ensure that a student is 
> physically separated at
>
> all times during the school day from the general pupil population. A 
> student who has been
>
> suspended or expelled from his or her resident district for any reason may

> attend a nonresident
>
> alternative education program without the resident district's approval 
> [MCL 388.1606(6)(h)]. If
>
> the student is not placed in an alternative education program or a "strict

> discipline academy,"
>
> the school district may provide or arrange for the intermediate school 
> district to provide to the
>
> student appropriate instructional services at home. Homebound services are

> designed to help
>
> students who are unable to attend school to keep up with their studies 
> [MCL 388.1709].
>
> It is the responsibility of the parent or legal guardian to locate a 
> suitable alternative education
>
> program and to enroll their child in a program during the expulsion. For 
> further information
>
> regarding alternative education programs available in your area, contact 
> your local or
>
> intermediate school district or the Office of Safe Schools at (517) 
> 373-1024.
>
> 23. When a student transfers from one school to another, how are his/her 
> records handled? Michigan law requires that within 14 days after enrolling

> a transfer student, the school shall
>
> request the student's record, including any Individualized Educational 
> Plan (IEP) for a special
>
> education pupil, in writing from the previous school (MCL 380.1135). The 
> previous school has
>
> up to 30 days to comply. All Michigan schools have been advised that they 
> should have
>
> procedures in place to facilitate these transfers.
>
> FACILITIES
>
> 24. What requirements are in place for charter school facilities? Public 
> Act 277of 2011 amended the Revised School Code to allow a PSA to serve the

> same
>
> grades at multiple sites provided it presents documentation that it is 
> operating in compliance
>
> with its contract and is making measurable progress toward meeting its 
> educational goals, or,
>
> for new schools, can demonstrate that the educational model has resulted 
> in schools that can
>
> demonstrate measurable progress.
>
> Michigan law requires that any school operating in the state have a valid 
> Certificate of
>
> Occupancy and make available to the public all health and safety reports 
> regarding school
>
> facilities. Failure to obtain necessary inspections and obtain this 
> certificate results in a potential
>
> withholding of State Aid.
>
> Information about the requirements and procedures for obtaining a 
> Certificate of Occupancy is
>
> maintained at the Bureau of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA). 
> Please feel free to call
>
> (517) 241-9302 with specific questions. 7
>
> 25. Are resources available to support charter schools with their 
> facilities costs? Property occupied by a public school academy and used 
> exclusively for educational purposes is
>
> exempt from some real and personal property taxes.
>
> The Michigan Public Educational Facilities Authority is dedicated to 
> providing opportunities for
>
> low cost financing and technical assistance for qualified public 
> educational facilities and public
>
> school academies through its bonding and loan programs. Please feel free 
> to call (517) 3350994 to learn more.
>
> FINANCE
>
> 26. Can a charter school charge tuition? Unlike traditional school 
> districts, a charter school may not charge tuition. Charter schools are,
>
> by statute, free and open to all Michigan residents.
>
> 27. Must all state and federal education dollars be sent directly to the 
> authorizing body of the
>
> charter school? No. The law requires only that payments under the State 
> School Aid Act be sent directly to the
>
> authorizing bodies. A charter school may receive federal grant funds 
> directly from the Michigan
>
> Department of Education by following the same procedures that traditional 
> school districts are
>
> required to follow.
>
> 28. Is a charter school considered a constituent district in intermediate 
> school districts for
>
> purposes of area vocational/career and technical education millage, and do

> charter school
>
> students have access to the programs and services provided with those 
> funds? Yes, just as with any other traditional school district located in 
> the intermediate school district.
>
> Services funded through vocational/career and technical education millage 
> dollars must be
>
> allocated to a charter school on the same proportional basis used for 
> other constituent districts.
>
> 29. Is a charter school eligible for categorical vocational/career and 
> technical education state aid
>
> payments? Yes. The program must meet necessary guidelines and be approved 
> by the Office of Career and
>
> Technical Education. Please feel free to call (517) 373-3373 with specific

> questions.
>
> 30. Where can a charter school get more information about 
> vocational/career and technical
>
> education program approval? Contact the Office of Career and Technical 
> Education by reviewing their website, or call (517)
>
> 373-3373 with specific questions.
>
> 8
>
> 31. What are the common responsibilities of charter schools to the 
> Michigan Department of
>
> Education (MDE) as they relate to financial reporting? . Charter schools 
> are required to follow a common fiscal year. That year begins July 1 and
>
> ends June 30 of the following calendar year (MCL 380.1133). . Charter 
> schools are required to follow generally accepted accounting principles 
> for
>
> governmental entities. The Michigan School Accounting Manual addresses 
> many of
>
> these principles and should be used as a reference. Specific questions 
> related to school
>
> accounting issues may be directed to the Office of State Aid and School 
> Finance at (517)
>
> 335-0524. . Charter schools are required to follow a uniform chart of 
> accounts. The chart of
>
> accounts is found in the Michigan School Accounting Manual. Section 
> 380.1281(c) of
>
> the Revised School Code requires the Michigan Department of Education to: 
> "Prescribe appropriate uniform pupil and finance accounting records for 
> use in
>
> school districts, public school academies, and intermediate school 
> districts and
>
> promulgate rules for their adoption."
>
> . Charter schools are to submit an annual comprehensive financial report 
> into the
>
> Financial Information Database (FID) maintained by the Center for 
> Educational
>
> Performance and Information (CEPI) using the chart of accounts prescribed 
> in the
>
> Michigan School Accounting Manual. The report is submitted electronically,

> and is filed
>
> with MDE by November 15 of each year. The penalty for noncompliance is the
>
> withholding of state school aid payments. See Section 388.1618(3) and (5) 
> of the State
>
> School Aid Act. . Charter schools are required to have an independent 
> audit of their financial accounting
>
> records conducted at least annually by a certified public accountant. The 
> audit reports
>
> are filed with MDE no later than November 15 of each year. Guidance for 
> the audit is
>
> given in the Michigan School Auditing Manual. The penalty for 
> noncompliance is the
>
> withholding of state school aid payments. See Section 388.1618(2) and (5) 
> of the State
>
> School Aid Act. . All charter school financial audits are subject to 
> Government Auditing Standards (GAS).
>
> The book describing the standards is available online by visiting 
> www.gao.gov. . Charter school boards shall adopt a budget prior to the 
> commencement of the fiscal
>
> year, using the minimum levels of appropriation described in Section IV of

> the Michigan
>
> School Accounting Manual. . Charter schools are not to adopt or operate 
> under a "deficit budget" (State School Aid
>
> Act, MCL 388.1702. MDE closely monitors entities that violate this 
> statute). . Charter schools should always seek competent legal counsel 
> before entering into any
>
> binding legal or borrowing agreement. 9
>
> . Charter schools must provide the same transparency information on their 
> website that
>
> all public schools provide [MCL 388.1618(2) and RSC 503(6)(1)]. 
> PROBLEMS/CONCERNS
>
> 32. What is the chain of accountability to be used if a problem is 
> identified at the academy? The school should have in place a student 
> handbook that may address the issue. If not, the
>
> protocol for raising issues and concerns is to begin with the teacher, 
> then the principal, and then
>
> the board of directors over the academy. It is important to give the 
> school and its leadership an
>
> opportunity to correct the problem first. If the problem or concern 
> continues after discussing it
>
> at the school level, the next step is to contact the school's authorizer.
>
> 33. What question should a parent ask a charter school representative 
> before choosing to send a
>
> child to that school? All charter schools are different, even if they use 
> the same curriculum. Visit the school and ask
>
> questions about the school's educational program, leadership (governing 
> board and
>
> administration), faculty, and policies. Most schools will provide a 
> Parent/Student Handbook,
>
> which includes general information.
>
> Several online resources for choosing a school are also available, such as

> www.school4me.org.
>
> You can obtain recent test score averages for any school (and compare them

> to each other and
>
> the state) at www.mischooldata.org..
>
> 34. Can a charter school charge for uniforms or badges/emblems to be worn 
> on clothing? Michigan's State Board of Education has issued the following 
> position statement on clothing and
>
> uniforms. . It is recommended that any fees be disclosed in a student 
> handbook and that the
>
> student handbook be made available to every student and parent. 
> Administrators are
>
> encouraged to distribute the handbooks at the beginning of each school 
> year and that they
>
> require acknowledgement of the receipt by parents and students.
>
> A. School districts may require fees for clothing and food which are 
> offered during the
>
> regular school program. B. Swimming suits, gym clothing, gym shoes, 
> football shoes, baseball shoes, spats, leggings or
>
> special shoes to wear with a band uniform need not be supplied by the 
> school district.
>
> School districts may make a reasonable charge for the use of any of these 
> items that it
>
> supplies to its students. Parents, however, may purchase or supply their 
> own above-
>
> mentioned items that are satisfactory for use. C. If a specific color, 
> style and manufacturer is required by the school district, then the
>
> school district must supply the item free of charge. D. Special clothing 
> (not robes or band uniforms) for extracurricular activities such as choir 
> or
>
> band or orchestra need not be supplied or paid for by the school district.

> Example: For
>
> choir, a white blouse or shirt, dark trousers or skirt, and black shoes 
> and stockings. 10
>
> Emblems or badges to be worn on clothing are to be provided by the school 
> free of charge, if
>
> they are required.
>
> 35. Can a charter school charge parents who do not pick up students on 
> time after school? This is a local issue to be decided by each school. It 
> is recommended that school boards that
>
> choose to adopt such policies consult their attorneys, ensure adequate 
> notice and information is
>
> provided to students and parents, perhaps through publication in the 
> school's student
>
> handbook.
>
> START-UP FUNDING
>
> 36. Are there federal charter school dollars to help start an academy? 
> Yes. There are Planning and Implementation grants available for new 
> academies. The purpose
>
> of these grants is to:
>
> . broaden and strengthen the pool of charter applicants available to 
> Michigan
>
> authorizers, and . support those charter applicants that succeed in 
> obtaining a charter contract and MDE
>
> issued school district code as they launch the schools they planned. To 
> that end, MDE makes early-stage planning grants available to charter 
> school developers for
>
> up to 18 months of Program Planning and Design in two stages:
>
> . Stage One: Refinement of an ambitious, innovative academic vision, and 
> design of a
>
> data-based program evaluation methodology that will demonstrate to the 
> governance
>
> body whether the vision is succeeding. Up to $35,000 will be released upon

> award for
>
> use in completing these deliverables. . Stage Two: Development of a sound,

> comprehensive business plan to support the
>
> academic vision and finalization of a full charter application strong 
> enough to secure a
>
> charter contract from a Michigan authorizer. Up to $75,000 of additional 
> funds will be
>
> released upon satisfactory completion of Stage One for use in completing 
> these
>
> deliverables. Implementation funding is available to successful planning 
> grantees for up to the first two years
>
> of operations of a new charter school for purposes of equipping and 
> supplying the school;
>
> developing needed materials and systems; and acquiring curriculum 
> materials, texts, classroom
>
> equipment, and supplies. Implementation grants total $200,000 per year for

> up to two years.
>
> Successful planning grantees must submit their narrative, management plan,

> budget and other
>
> required information in MEGS+, but do not compete again for implementation

> funds.
>
> 37. Must applicants compete for each of these planning and implementation 
> grants? No. Applicants only compete once. However, they do need to apply 
> for each available grant in
>
> MEGS+.
>
> 11
>
> 38. Are dissemination grant funds available for public school academies? 
> How does an academy
>
> qualify? Yes, there are dissemination grants available. All academies that

> have been open and serving
>
> students for a minimum of three consecutive school years and have 
> demonstrated overall
>
> success may apply for this competitive grant. Therefore, if a school is in

> its fourth year of
>
> serving students and can demonstrate favorable results, it may apply for 
> this grant. Please refer
>
> to the MDE PSA Unit website for additional information included in the 
> 2011-2012 application
>
> for dissemination grants.
>
> 39. Is the dissemination grant a competitive grant? Yes, the dissemination

> grant is a competitive grant. If an applicant is successful competing for
>
> this grant, the applicant may only be awarded a dissemination grant once. 
> The dissemination
>
> project may be funded for up to two years if approved by MDE.
>
> STAFFING
>
> 40. Are employees of an outside company who are providing instructional 
> services to charter
>
> school students members of the Michigan Public School Employees' 
> Retirement System
>
> (MPSERS) and local union? Attorney General Opinion No. 6915 (1996) 
> addressed two issues: whether charter schools are
>
> subject to section 380.1231 of the Revised School Code, requiring the 
> board of a school district
>
> to "hire and contract with qualified teachers"; and whether employees of 
> an outside company
>
> who are providing instructional services to charter school students are 
> members of MPSERS.
>
> Although instruction in charter schools is to be provided by certificated 
> teachers, pursuant to
>
> this opinion, charter schools may contract with outside companies for the 
> provision of
>
> instructional services. Teachers who are providing instructional services 
> to students of a charter
>
> school, who are employed by an outside company rather than by the charter 
> school, are not
>
> members of MPSERS.
>
> In December 2011, Public Act 277removed the requirement that school 
> districts authorizing a
>
> PSA must cover PSA staff under that district's current collective 
> bargaining agreements.
>
> 41. How does employment as a teacher in a Michigan charter school affect 
> that teacher's college
>
> Perkins loan? A teacher who works in a Michigan charter school that is 
> classified as low-income and non-profit
>
> may be eligible for Perkins Loan forgiveness according to all of the 
> following requirements:
>
> . The Perkins Loan Forgiveness is processed (money and request for 
> forgiveness) at the
>
> college level, which is based on the input received from the Michigan 
> Department of
>
> Treasury. 12
>
> . Students who have a Perkins Loan can request their loan be forgiven if 
> the school they
>
> work for participates in the National School Lunch, School Breakfast, 
> and/or Special Milk
>
> Program; and where 30% or more of the enrolled children have been approved

> for free
>
> and/or reduced price meals or free milk. . If a teacher works for, and 
> receives a paycheck from, an educational management
>
> organization that is for-profit, then the teacher's Perkins student loan 
> is NOT forgiven. . If a teacher works for a charter school and receives a 
> paycheck from the academy, then
>
> the teacher's Perkins student loan may be forgiven. Text from the above 
> link states, "To
>
> receive a cancellation, the borrower must be directly employed by the 
> school system." . All college loan related questions/answers should be 
> confirmed by the college that
>
> issued the loan. AUTHORIZERS
>
> 42. What are the major responsibilities of an authorizing body? Pursuant 
> to Section 380.502(4): "An authorizing body shall oversee, or shall 
> contract with an
>
> intermediate school district, community college, or state public 
> university to oversee, each
>
> public school academy operating under a contract issued by the authorizing

> body. The
>
> authorizing body is responsible for overseeing compliance by the board of 
> directors with the
>
> contract and all applicable law ."1 These oversight duties include:
>
> . Thoroughly reviewing the applicant's educational plan. The plan must 
> address the
>
> educational needs of the students, curriculum goals and objectives, 
> teaching methods,
>
> and student assessment.2 . Determining if all fire, safety, and health 
> codes are met. . Developing a description of the methods to be used to 
> monitor the charter school's
>
> compliance with applicable law and its performance in meeting its targeted

> educational
>
> objectives. Authorizers must implement a corrective plan of action for 
> their schools that
>
> do not meet those standards. . Ensure charter school boards operate 
> independently of any educational management
>
> company involved in the operation of the school. . Developing a 
> description of the process for amending the contract during the term of
>
> the contract. 1"If the state board finds that an authorizing body is not 
> engaging in appropriate continuing
>
> oversight of 1 or more public school academies operating under a contract 
> issued by the authorizing body,
>
> the state board shall suspend the power of the authorizing body to issue 
> new contracts to organize and
>
> operate public school academies. A contract issued by the authorizing body

> during the suspension is void.
>
> A contract issued by the authorizing body before the suspension is not 
> affected by the suspension." [MCL
>
> 380.502(5)]
>
> 2The Revised School Code states that to the extent applicable, pupils 
> shall be assessed using at least
>
> a Michigan education assessment program (MEAP) test or an assessment 
> instrument developed under section
>
> 1279 for a state-endorsed high school diploma. [MCL 380.502(3)(e)(ii)]
>
> 13
>
> . Setting and enforcing the terms of the authorizing contract, including 
> adopting a
>
> resolution establishing the method of selection, length of term, and 
> number of
>
> members of the board of directors of the charter school. Authorizers must 
> also ensure
>
> the local community is represented on the board and that all board members

> are US
>
> citizens. . Within 10 days after issuing a charter school contract, a 
> charter school contract must be
>
> submitted to the Superintendent of Public Instruction. . A contract with a

> charter school may be revoked by the authorizing body if
>
> one or more of the following occurs: ? failure of the charter school to 
> demonstrate improved academic
>
> achievement for all groups of pupils or meet the educational goals
>
> set forth in the contract ? failure of the charter school to comply with 
> applicable law ? failure of the charter school to meet generally accepted 
> public sector accounting principles and demonstrate sound fiscal 
> stewardship
>
> ? or other grounds for revocation specified in the contract.
>
> Additional powers granted to authorizing bodies in the Revised School 
> Code, Section 380.507,
>
> include acting as fiscal agent for the charter school-the state school aid

> payment for the
>
> charter school is paid to the authorizing body that is the fiscal agent 
> for the charter school,
>
> which then forwards the payment, less up to a maximum of 3 percent, to the

> charter school.
>
> 43. If a school district, intermediate school district, or community 
> college is interested in
>
> becoming an authorizer, what action steps are needed? No formal MDE filing

> or approval is required for an organization to become an authorizer.
>
> Pursuant to MCL 380.502(3), the organization must notify MDE of its 
> actions and provide copies of
>
> the charter application and contract to the Superintendent of Public 
> Instruction within ten (10)
>
> days of approval.
>
> It is advisable for an eligible organization considering becoming an 
> authorizer to carefully weigh all
>
> aspects of this decision. A wide array of resources and insights are 
> available. Visit
>
> www.michigan.gov/charters to learn more, and call MDE at (517) 373-4631 
> with specific questions
>
> after reviewing available online resources.
>
> 44. How do authorizers decide which schools to authorize? In deciding 
> whether to issue a contract for a proposed public school academy, the 
> authorizing body
>
> is required to consider:
>
> . The resources available for the proposed academy; . The population to be

> served by the proposed academy; . The education goals to be achieved by 
> the proposed academy; . The applicant's track record, if any, in 
> organizing public school academies; . The graduation rate of a school 
> district in which the proposed academy is proposed to
>
> be located; . The population of a county in which the proposed public 
> school academy is proposed to
>
> be located; 14
>
> . The number of schools in the proximity of a proposed location of the 
> proposed public
>
> school academy that are identified as among the lowest achieving 5% of all

> public
>
> schools in the state; . The number of pupils on waiting lists of public 
> school academies in the proximity of the
>
> proposed location of the Academy. In addition, authorizer decisions 
> related to contract renewal must include increases in student
>
> academic achievement for all groups of pupils as "the most important" 
> factor [MCL 380.503(6)(h)].
>
> SERVICE PROVIDERS
>
> 45. What does an education service provider (also known as an ESP or 
> management company) do
>
> for a school? Michigan law permits charter school boards to contract with 
> service providers/management
>
> companies for various school staffing and support functions, which may 
> include facility
>
> management, personnel management, payroll and accounting, curriculum 
> development, and
>
> professional development services for staff and teachers. Roughly four out

> of five charter
>
> schools in Michigan have contracted with a service provider.
>
> Each charter school/service provider agreement is unique. Some charter 
> school boards contract
>
> for only one or two services, such as human resources or accounting, 
> whereas others choose to
>
> contract for all day-to-day staff functions. The variation in service 
> provider/management
>
> company arrangements is broad and difficult to quantify. Some service 
> providers/management
>
> companies work with only one charter school, while others contract with 
> multiple charter
>
> schools in Michigan and across the country. Some act in only a limited 
> capacity, while others
>
> offer complete "turn-key" operations. This widely varied approach to 
> charter school contracting
>
> has allowed for the creation of a diverse service provider/management 
> company marketplace in
>
> Michigan.
>
> Service providers/management companies are accountable to the non-profit 
> charter school
>
> boards that hire them. The boards are responsible for setting policy, 
> directing operational and
>
> academic performance, and ensuring fiscal stability. Regardless of the 
> type or level of support
>
> for which it is contracted, each service provider/management company 
> operates at the
>
> direction of the charter school board.
>
> 46. How accountable are service providers/management companies in 
> Michigan? Many aspects of service provider/management company spending are

> already reported through
>
> their schools' data submissions to the state. Michigan's Center for 
> Educational Performance and
>
> Information (CEPI) maintains academic, personnel and financial information

> about each of the
>
> service provider-managed schools, just as it does for all other schools. 
> Charter schools are
>
> required to report salaries of staff who work at the school, even if they 
> are employed by a 3rd
>
> party. Additionally, service providers/management companies are vendors, 
> hired and overseen
>
> by the charter school board through a performance agreement, often 
> referred to as a
>
> management contract. Charter school boards should hold all vendors, 
> including service
>
> providers/management companies, accountable for the services they provide.
>
> 15
>
> CHARTER SCHOOL BOARDS
>
> 47. How are charter school board members appointed? Charter school board 
> members are public officials that have sworn a constitutional oath of 
> office
>
> in Michigan. Each board member undergoes a selection and appointment 
> process established
>
> by the charter school's authorizer before being named by the authorizer's 
> governing board.
>
> Boards must have representation from the local community and board members

> must be
>
> citizens of the United States.
>
> Some concerns have been raised about whether or not service 
> providers/management
>
> companies in Michigan are able to name their own governing boards and thus

> exercise some
>
> undue level of influence or control over these boards once a school is 
> established. While
>
> Michigan law permits the developer of a new charter school to name the 
> members of an initial
>
> governing board, it is up to the authorizer to ensure that those board 
> members are qualified,
>
> independent voices on behalf of the charter schools they serve.
>
> To ensure procedural consistency across Michigan's authorizing community, 
> the Michigan
>
> Council of Charter School Authorizers (MCCSA) has adopted standards for 
> this selection and
>
> appointment process. At minimum, these standards presume written 
> application for board
>
> appointment, a criminal records check, and a personal interview.
>
> The standards also discuss potential conflict of interest issues and 
> recommend the use of a
>
> disclosure form to be completed by charter school board members on an 
> annual basis. These
>
> procedures are designed to ensure board member quality and autonomy and 
> prevent
>
> inappropriate charter school board member/service provider relationships. 
> Visit www.mccsa.us
>
> to learn more.
>
> 48. Can the board and/or staff of a school be family members, or otherwise

> closely related to
>
> members of the board? No. The December 2011 amendment to the Revised 
> School Code requires the academy board
>
> to prohibit specified family relationships among board members, 
> individuals who have an
>
> ownership interest in or who are officers or employees of an ESP involved 
> in the operation of
>
> the academy and employees of the academy. The potential for or existence 
> of conflicts of
>
> interest among board members are items that are carefully monitored by 
> Michigan authorizers.
>
> As mentioned, MCCSA oversight and accountability standards recommend the 
> use of a
>
> disclosure form to be completed by charter school board members on an 
> annual basis. These
>
> procedures are designed to ensure board member quality and autonomy and 
> prevent
>
> inappropriate charter school board member/service provider relationships. 
> Visit www.mccsa.us
>
> to learn more.
>
> 16
>
> SPECIAL EDUCATION
>
> 49. What options may a charter school use to meet its responsibilities to 
> provide a free
>
> appropriate public education, as required by state and federal law, to a 
> student with a
>
> disability?
>
> As provided in Section 380.1751 of the Revised School Code (scroll to the 
> bottom of the PSA
>
> Unit website for access to the RSC):
>
> The board of a local school district [or charter school] shall provide 
> special education
>
> programs and services designed to develop the maximum potential of each 
> handicapped
>
> person in its district on record.for whom an appropriate educational or 
> training program
>
> can be provided in accordance with the intermediate school district 
> special education plan,
>
> in either of the following ways or a combination thereof:
>
> . Operate the special education program or service. . Contract with its 
> intermediate school board, another intermediate school board,
>
> another local school district board, and adjacent school district board in

> a bordering
>
> state, the Michigan School for the Blind, the Michigan School for the 
> Deaf, the
>
> Department of Community Health (DCH), or the Department of Human Services.

> The
>
> intermediate school district where the local school district [or charter 
> school] is located
>
> shall be a party to each contract even if the intermediate school district

> does not
>
> participate in the delivery of the program or services. Pursuant to 
> Attorney General Opinion No. 6915 (1996), charter schools are not required
>
> directly to employ teachers. Instruction at charter schools is to be 
> provided by
>
> certificated teachers (exception-refer to Section 380.505) however, 
> charter schools may
>
> contract with outside companies for the provision of instructional 
> services. Therefore,
>
> "a public school academy is not subject to Section 380.1231 of the Revised

> School Code,
>
> which requires the board of a school district to 'hire and contract with 
> qualified
>
> teachers' and it may contract with an outside company for the provision of

> instructional
>
> services by employees of that company."
>
> In addition to the methods listed above, a charter school may contract 
> with any agency
>
> approved by the State Board of Education for delivery of ancillary or 
> related professional
>
> education services. .
>
> 50. If a charter school chooses to hire staff or contract with a private 
> agency for "services," is the
>
> charter school entitled to apply for reimbursement under the State School 
> Aid Act (Section
>
> 388.1651a, special education funding) and the intermediate school district

> special education
>
> millage? Yes. A charter school is considered to be a local school district

> under Section 388.1603(5) of the
>
> State School Aid Act and is considered a local district to be included in 
> the intermediate school
>
> district plan for special education programs and services. Therefore, 
> charter schools have the
>
> same right to participate in state school aid and intermediate school 
> district special education
>
> 17
>
> funding as any other local school district, in accordance with the 
> provisions to the intermediate
>
> school district plan for special education programs and services.
>
> 51. If a charter school is entitled to intermediate school district 
> special education millage funds, is
>
> the charter school held to the same limitations as other local districts, 
> i.e., cap on student-
>
> staff ratio used for certain categories of programming? Yes. For purposes 
> of special education services, a charter school is bound to the same
>
> requirements as other local constituent districts served by their 
> respective intermediate school
>
> districts. To participate, the charter school, just as any other 
> constituent district, must be
>
> recognized in its respective intermediate school district plan for special

> education programs and
>
> services.
>
> 52. Is a charter school eligible for Individuals with Disabilities 
> Education Act funds? Yes. Federal special education funds under the 
> Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
>
> are granted to the intermediate school districts. These funds are 
> distributed to constituent local
>
> school districts according to the intermediate school district plan for 
> special education programs
>
> and services, which must comply with state and federal regulations 
> controlling use and
>
> distribution of the funds. The intermediate school district plan for 
> special education programs
>
> and services is developed cooperatively with local constituent school 
> districts, including charter
>
> schools.
>
> 53. If a charter school is eligible for intermediate school district 
> special education millage and
>
> Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Funds, must a charter school 
> follow the same
>
> requirements as other local educational agencies for obtaining funds, 
> e.g., filing of forms and
>
> applications? Yes. A charter school must follow the same requirements as 
> other local educational agencies.
>
> Both state and federal funds are appropriated under Article 5 of the State

> School Aid Act of
>
> 1979, as amended, MCL 388.1651a et seq.
>
> . Article 5 of the State School Aid Act indicates the funds may be used 
> for the purpose of
>
> reimbursing districts and intermediate school districts for special 
> education programs,
>
> services, and special education personnel. . Article 5 of the State School

> Aid Act allocates funds for: i. Special education programs and services as

> defined in Article 3 of the Revised
>
> School Code, MCL 380.1701, et seq. ii. A total of salaries and other 
> compensation paid to approved special education
>
> personnel. Rule 340.1771 through Rule 340.1799g provide personnel approval
>
> criteria. . Section 388.1658 of the State School Aid Act, allocates funds 
> to districts and
>
> intermediate districts for providing specialized transportation services, 
> as determined by
>
> MDE, for pupils in special education programs and services as defined in 
> Section 388.6 18
>
> of the Revised School Code. Specialized transportation services are 
> defined in Rule
>
> 388.371 of the Michigan Administrative Code Rules governing State Aid for
>
> Transportation of School Children. 54. Must a charter school adhere to all

> provisions of IDEA, the Michigan Revised Administrative
>
> Rules for Special Education, the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act, 
> and other state and
>
> federal statutes? Yes. The IDEA considers the state as a whole. If the 
> state (as a whole) receives federal funds,
>
> then all entities of the public educational system are responsible to 
> comply with IDEA
>
> provisions, including ensuring that each eligible child with a disability 
> is provided a "free
>
> appropriate public education." Michigan complies with the IDEA in its 
> implementing
>
> regulations. A charter school is required to adhere to Michigan statutes 
> and rules for special
>
> education, as well as the federal requirements.
>
> The Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (34 CFR Part 99) (FERPA) has a

> broader applicability
>
> than special education; it applies to all public educational entities and 
> their students, whether or
>
> not special education is at issue. The purpose of FERPA is to protect the 
> confidentiality of
>
> student educational records. FERPA is a federal law that affords parents 
> the right to have access
>
> to their children's education records, the right to seek to have the 
> records amended, and the
>
> right to have some control over the disclosure of information from the 
> records. Educational
>
> institutions shall not release educational records to non-school employees

> without consent of
>
> the parents. FERPA does permit schools to work with juvenile justice 
> system agencies. Failure
>
> of an educational agency or institution to comply with FERPA can result in

> loss of federal
>
> funding.
>
> Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, P.L. 93-112, 
> requires that "no
>
> qualified handicapped person shall, on the basis of handicap, be excluded 
> from participation in,
>
> be denied the benefits from Federal financial assistance.." The Office for

> Civil Rights of the U.S.
>
> Department of Education enforces the law prohibiting specific 
> discriminatory activities. The law
>
> applies to elementary and secondary, as well as postsecondary schools. The

> Act was
>
> reauthorized in 1998 with amendments and added links to the Workforce 
> Investment
>
> Partnership Act of 1998. The Rehabilitation Act Amendments of 1998 
> included extensive links
>
> between vocational rehabilitation agencies and state workforce systems.
>
> Section 504 also includes "hidden disabilities," such as physical and 
> mental impairments that are
>
> not readily apparent to others (i.e., learning disabilities, diabetes, 
> epilepsy, heart disease, and
>
> chronic illness).
>
> 55. Is the intermediate school district required to monitor special 
> education programs and
>
> services? Yes. A charter school is identified in statute as a local public

> school district and has the same
>
> rights and responsibilities as any other school district. MDE is required 
> to monitor local and
>
> intermediate school districts for compliance with the IDEA and with 
> Michigan's Administrative
>
> Rules for Special Education. This activity includes a charter school.
>
> 19
>
> The intermediate school districts are an integral part of the monitoring 
> process. As such,
>
> intermediate school districts must monitor a charter school to ensure 
> their compliance with
>
> pertinent special education requirements.
>
> 56. To what extent is an intermediate school district responsible for 
> charter schools serving pupils
>
> whose parents reside outside of the intermediate school district where the

> charter school is
>
> located? For purposes of special education, the charter school is a 
> constituent district of the intermediate
>
> school district in which it is located. The intermediate school district 
> has the same responsibility
>
> to the charter school as it does to any other constituent district. It is 
> not unusual for a public
>
> school district to serve pupils who come from other districts, including 
> pupils whose parents live
>
> in another intermediate school district. The intermediate school district 
> has the same obligation
>
> to pupils whose parents live elsewhere as it does to any other pupil 
> legally enrolled by a
>
> constituent district.
>
> Section 51a (15) of the State School Aid Act (MCL 388.1651a(15)) further 
> clarifies:
>
> (15) If a public school academy enrolls pursuant to this section a pupil 
> who resides
>
> outside of the intermediate district in which the public school academy is

> located
>
> and who is eligible for special education programs and services according 
> to statute
>
> or rule, or who is a child with disabilities, as defined under the 
> individuals with
>
> disabilities education act, Public Law 108-446, the provision of special 
> education
>
> programs and services and the payment of the added costs of special 
> education
>
> programs and services for the pupil are the responsibility of the district

> and
>
> intermediate district in which the pupil resides unless the enrolling 
> district or
>
> intermediate district has a written agreement with the district or 
> intermediate
>
> district in which the pupil resides or the public school academy for the 
> purpose of
>
> providing the pupil with a free appropriate public education and the 
> written
>
> agreement includes at least an agreement on the responsibility for the 
> payment of
>
> the added costs of special education programs and services for the pupil. 
> 57. Is there a need to certify charter school students for special 
> education services and identify
>
> them as such on the enrollment count if the charter school is not planning

> to claim additional
>
> state funding or federal funding? If "certify" refers to the process of 
> identifying children who are suspected to have a disability
>
> under state or federal law, the response is yes. This is called Child Find

> under the federal
>
> regulations. There is a need to complete the "child find" requirements 
> irrespective of
>
> application or claim for additional state or federal funding.
>
> The State of Michigan is responsible to ensure a free and appropriate 
> public education for every
>
> student with a disability who is enrolled in its public school system. 
> Since a charter school is a
>
> public school, it is bound by the same requirements as other public 
> intermediate and local
>
> school districts within the state. The determination of a charter school 
> to seek no state or
>
> federal funds related to special education does not exempt it from this 
> obligation.
>
> 20
>
> 58. If a charter school contracts with a private entity to provide speech,

> psychological, and social
>
> work services: (a) must the credentials of the providers be the same as 
> those employed by
>
> public schools in general; and (b) must the charter school submit its 
> personnel inventory to
>
> the intermediate school district? This response is intended to refer only 
> to professional personnel related to "special education
>
> programs or services."
>
> In response to part "(a)" of the question, the answer is yes. Standards 
> are articulated in the
>
> Administrative Rules for Special Education and the rules governing 
> different professional
>
> specialties.
>
> In response to part "(b)" of the question, to meet federal reporting 
> requirements prerequisite to
>
> receipt of federal funds requires reporting particular information about 
> public school students
>
> and professional personnel to the federal government on an annual basis. 
> This information is
>
> collected through the Michigan Department of Education's Registry of 
> Education Personnel
>
> (REP). REP data are collected semi-annually in December and June. This 
> process is implemented
>
> through the local school districts data collection procedures. If there 
> are students with
>
> individualized education programs enrolled in a charter school, then the 
> information pertaining
>
> to special education programs or services to those students must be 
> reported as part of the
>
> "December One Count" through the Michigan Compliance Information System 
> (MICIS).
>
> For further information regarding special education, you may contact MDE's

> Office of Special
>
> Education & Early Intervention Services at (517) 373-0923.
>
> 21
>
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Larry Posont" 
> <president.nfb.mi at gmail.com>
> To: "nfbmi List" <nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Tuesday, July 16, 2013 6:22 PM
> Subject: [nfbmi-talk] Fw: Agenda for the BSBP Commission for Blind 
> Personsmeeting July 18, 2013
>
>
>
>
>
> From: Rodgers, Edward (LARA)
> Sent: Tuesday, July 16, 2013 4:17 PM
> To: Larry Posont (president.nfb.mi at gmail.com) ; Joe Sibley 
> (joe.sibley at comcast.net)
> Subject: Agenda for the BSBP Commission for Blind Persons meeting July 18,

> 2013
>
>
>
>
> Commission for Blind Persons (Commission)
>
> Thursday, July 18, 2013
>
> Victor Building, 3rd Floor, Conference room A/B,
>
> 201 N. Washington Square
>
> Lansing, MI
>
> 9:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
>
>
>
> Meeting Agenda
>
>
>
>
>
> Live audio streaming of the meeting will be available online at the Bureau

> of Services for Blind Persons (Bureau) web site at www.michigan.gov/bsbp.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Participants:
>
>
>
> Commission:    Lylas G. Mogk, Chair            Josie Barnes-Parker
>
>                            LeeAnn Buckingham            Joseph E. Sibley
>
>                            Marianne Dunn                     Michael J. 
> Hudson
>
> Gary Gaynor                                   (absent with cause)
>
>
>
> Bureau of Services for Blind Persons (Bureau):
>
>                Edward F. Rodgers II, Director
>
>                Mike Pemble, Deputy Director and
>
> Administrative Services Manager
>
>                Leamon Jones, Consumer Services Director
>
>                Lisa Kisiel, Acting Training Center Director
>
>                Constance Zanger, Business Enterprise Program Manager
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>    I.        Call to Order, Welcome
>
> Announcements, Introductions
>
> L. Mogk and All            9:30 -9:40
>
>
>
>
>
>  II.        Report from the Director and Questions from Commission
>
> Director Rodgers         9:40-10:40
>
>
>
> A.  Status of proposed Charter School for the Blind
>
> B.  Status of Training Center Director Appointment
>
> C.  Training Center Business Plan
>
> D.  Overview and Discussion of State Plan
>
> E.  Clarification of how Commission's input will be considered regarding 
> BSBP programs and policies
>
>
>
>
>
> III.        Review and Discussion of Questions/Responses submitted in 
> Advance
>
> Director Rodgers
>
> and Staff                       10:40-11:40
>
>
>
> A.  MCRS and the Commission:  L. Mogk
>
> B.  Vocational Rehabilitation:
>
> J. Barnes - Parker
>
> G. Gaynor
>
> C.  BEP/Randolph Sheppard:
>
> L. Buckingham
>
> J. Sibley
>
> L. Mogk
>
>
>
>
>
> IV.        Public Comment 11:40-12:00
>
>
>
>
>
> Lunch Break 12:00 - 1:00
>
>         (Lunch is provided for Commissioners and
>
> participants in the meeting)
>
>
>
>
>
> V.        Subcommittee Reports, Questions, Discussion and Next Steps 
> Commission                 1:00-1:45
>
>
>
> A.  BEP:                                  L. Buckingham
>
> J. Sibley
>
> B.  Training Center:                M. Dunn
>
> C.  Consumer Services:        J. Barnes - Parker
>
> G.  Gaynor
>
>
>
>
>
> VI.        Upcoming Meetings
>
> L. Mogk                         1:45-1:50
>
>
>
>
>
> VII.        Public Comment 1:50-2:00
>
>
>
>
>
> VIII.        Adjournment
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> (Please note new Commissioner email address at 
> bsbpcommissioners at michigan.gov)
>
>
>
> *NOTE: Public comment may be submitted in written form until 5:00 p.m. 
> July 22, 2013 via email to bsbppubliccomments at gmail.com included in whole 
> as an addendum to the meeting minutes.  Emails received outside of this 
> time frame are not considered part of Public Comment.  The Commissioners 
> can be reached at bsbpcommissioners at michigan.gov.  This is an email box 
> that all Commissioners have access to.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----
>
>
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>
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