Sec. 1279h.

(1) Subject to subsections (4) and (5), the board of a school district or board of directors of a public school academy shall grant high school credit to a pupil in grades 9 to 12 for the completion of an internship or work experience if the pupil attends the internship or work experience at least 4 hours per week for the same number of weeks as are necessary to earn credit in a traditional course in that school district or public school academy. The board or board of directors, or its designee, shall not require a pupil to attend the internship or work experience more than 10 hours per week.

(2) If a pupil engages in an internship or work experience qualifying for credit under this section that is determined to be academically appropriate by the board or board of directors, or its designee, and if the pupil's parent or legal guardian grants permission, the board or board of directors, or its designee, shall ensure that the pupil is excused from at least 1 period of instructional time during each day that the pupil attends the internship or work experience, as determined appropriate by the board or board of directors, or its designee.

(3) The board or board of directors, or its designee, shall exercise oversight of the pupil's internship or work experience as necessary to ensure that the pupil meets the requirements under this section.

(4) A board or board of directors may deny high school credit to a pupil under this section if any of the following apply, as determined by the board or board of directors, or its designee:

(a) The pupil has a history of course failure or is not on track to graduate in 4 years.

(b) The pupil previously earned credit under this section for an internship or work experience with the same employer, unless the new internship or work experience is materially different than the internship or work experience for which the pupil previously earned credit, as determined by the board or board of directors, or its designee.

(c) The pupil failed to request credit for engaging in an internship or work experience before the pupil's school schedule for the current term was determined.

(d) The pupil previously engaged in an internship or work experience under this section but failed to satisfy the requirements under subsection (1) for the previous internship or work experience.

(e) The pupil fails to complete a reflection project, if required by the board or board of directors, or its designee, under subsection (5).

(f) The internship or work experience is not consistent with the pupil's educational development plan under section 1278b, as determined by the board or board of directors, or its designee.

(g) The employer for which the internship or work experience is performed is unable to demonstrate that it complies with all applicable general liability coverage requirements of the worker's disability compensation act of 1969, 1969 PA 317, MCL 418.101 to 418.941.

(h) The cost of oversight under subsection (3) exceeds 16.67% of the minimum foundation allowance for the current fiscal year for the school district or public school academy in which the pupil is enrolled, as calculated under section 20 of the state school aid act of 1979, MCL 388.1620.

(5) The board or board of directors may require a pupil engaging in an internship or work experience under this section to complete a reflection project. If a board or board of directors requires a reflection project under this subsection, the reflection project may include, but is not limited to, all of the following:

(a) A copy of the pupil's time card from the internship or work experience.

(b) A resume that includes the internship or work experience.

(c) A written summary of the internship or work experience.

(6) If a board or board of directors denies a pupil credit for an internship or work experience under this section, the pupil may appeal the denial by submitting an appeal letter to the superintendent of the intermediate school district in which the pupil's school is located. An appeal letter under this subsection must include the board's or board of directors' reasons for the denial and the pupil's argument for reversing the denial. The superintendent shall uphold or reverse the denial within 5 business days of receipt of the appeal letter. If the superintendent reverses the denial, the board or board of directors shall award the pupil credit for the internship or work experience.

(7) This section shall not be construed to affect the applicability of any existing state or federal law concerning the employment of minors.

History: Add. 2018, Act 184, Eff. Sept. 11, 2018 Popular Name: Act 451