LANSING, Mich. — Legislation that would extend dual enrollment opportunities to home-school and private school students and expand dual enrollment for public school students passed the Senate Education Committee recently, according to a report by the Michigan Information & Research Service Inc.
The package of bills would set up a way for the state Treasury Department to reimburse community colleges for dual enrolling home-schooled and private high school students, MIRS reported. Public school students already are allowed to dual enroll in community colleges, but the bills would increase the number of courses allowed and open the program to younger students, MIRS reported.
The students would be required to perform well on the Michigan Merit Exam before enrolling for college coursework, according to MIRS.
Sen. Coleman Young, D-Detroit, said any final legislation should protect public school funding, since dual enrollment for private and home-schooled students “might add up to a cost that could be difficult in the years ahead,” MIRS reported. Young did acknowledge that private and home-school parents are taxpayers as well, MIRS reported.
Sen. Phil Pavlov, R-St. Clair, said Michigan should not limit access to college education for any students, MIRS reported.
SOURCE:
Michigan Information & Research Service Inc., Capitol Capsule, “Community College Transfer Bills Move To Floor,” Oct. 19, 2011 (Subscription required)
MichiganVotes, “2011 Senate Bill 622: Repeal restrictions on non-public school students taking college courses”
FURTHER READING:
Mackinac Center for Public Policy, “Should Education Money Only be for K-12?” April 29, 2011
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