Sec. 1311d.

(1) A strict discipline academy shall be organized and administered under the direction of a board of directors in accordance with sections 1311b to 1311l and with bylaws adopted by the board of directors. A strict discipline academy corporation created to operate a strict discipline academy shall be organized under the nonprofit corporation act, 1982 PA 162, MCL 450.2101 to 450.3192, except that the strict discipline academy corporation is not required to comply with sections 170 to 177 of 1931 PA 327, MCL 450.170 to 450.177. To the extent disqualified under the state or federal constitution, a strict discipline academy shall not be organized by a church or other religious organization and shall not have any organizational or contractual affiliation with or constitute a church or other religious organization.

(2) Any of the following may act as an authorizing body to issue a contract to organize and operate 1 or more strict discipline academies under sections 1311b to 1311l:

(a) The board of a school district that operates grades K to 12. However, the board of a school district shall not issue a contract for a strict discipline academy to operate outside the school district's boundaries, and a strict discipline academy authorized by the board of a school district shall not operate outside that school district's boundaries.

(b) An intermediate school board. However, the board of an intermediate school district shall not issue a contract for a strict discipline academy to operate outside the intermediate school district's boundaries, and a strict discipline academy authorized by the board of an intermediate school district shall not operate outside that intermediate school district's boundaries.

(c) The board of a community college. However, except as otherwise provided in this subdivision, the board of a community college shall not issue a contract for a strict discipline academy to operate in a school district organized as a school district of the first class, a strict discipline academy authorized by the board of a community college shall not operate in a school district organized as a school district of the first class, the board of a community college shall not issue a contract for a strict discipline academy to operate outside the boundaries of the community college district, and a strict discipline academy authorized by the board of a community college shall not operate outside the boundaries of the community college district. The board of a community college also may issue a contract for not more than 1 strict discipline academy to operate on the grounds of an active or closed federal military installation located outside the boundaries of the community college district, or may operate a strict discipline academy itself on the grounds of such a federal military installation, if the federal military installation is not located within the boundaries of any community college district and the community college has previously offered courses on the grounds of the federal military installation for at least 10 years.

(d) The governing board of a state public university.

(3) To obtain a contract to organize and operate 1 or more strict discipline academies, 1 or more persons or an entity may apply to an authorizing body described in subsection (2). The application shall include at least all of the following:

(a) Identification of the applicant for the contract.

(b) Subject to the resolution adopted by the authorizing body under section 1311e, a list of the proposed members of the board of directors of the strict discipline academy and a description of the qualifications and method for appointment or election of members of the board of directors.

(c) The proposed articles of incorporation, which shall include at least all of the following:

(i) The name of the proposed strict discipline academy.

(ii) The purposes for the strict discipline academy corporation that will operate the strict discipline academy. This language shall provide that the strict discipline academy is established pursuant to sections 1311b to 1311l and that the strict discipline academy corporation is a governmental entity.

(iii) The name of the authorizing body.

(iv) The proposed time when the articles of incorporation will be effective.

(v) Other matters considered expedient to be in the articles of incorporation.

(d) A copy of the proposed bylaws of the strict discipline academy.

(e) Documentation meeting the application requirements of the authorizing body, including at least all of the following:

(i) The governance structure of the strict discipline academy.

(ii) A copy of the educational goals of the strict discipline academy and the curricula to be offered and methods of pupil assessment to be used by the strict discipline academy. To the extent applicable, the progress of the pupils in the strict discipline academy 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.

(iii) The admission policy and criteria to be maintained by the strict discipline academy. The admission policy and criteria shall comply with section 1311g. This part of the application also shall include a description of how the applicant will provide to the general public adequate notice that a strict discipline academy is being created and adequate information on the admission policy, criteria, and process.

(iv) The school calendar and school day schedule.

(v) The age or grade range of pupils to be enrolled.

(vi) The type of pupils to be enrolled in the strict discipline academy, as described in section 1311g(3) and (4).

(f) Descriptions of staff responsibilities and of the strict discipline academy's governance structure.

(g) For an application to the board of a school district, an intermediate school board, or board of a community college, identification of the local and intermediate school districts in which the strict discipline academy will be located.

(h) An agreement that the strict discipline academy will comply with the provisions of sections 1311b to 1311l and, subject to the provisions of these sections, with all other state law applicable to public bodies and with federal law applicable to public bodies or school districts.

(i) For a strict discipline academy authorized by a school district, an assurance that employees of the strict discipline academy will be covered by the collective bargaining agreements that apply to other employees of the school district employed in similar classifications in schools that are not strict discipline academies.

(j) A description of and address for the proposed physical plant in which the strict discipline academy will be located.

(4) An authorizing body shall oversee, or shall contract with an intermediate school district, community college, or state public university to oversee, each strict discipline academy operating under a contract issued by the authorizing body. The oversight shall be sufficient to ensure that the authorizing body can certify that the strict discipline academy is in compliance with statute, rules, and the terms of the contract.

(5) If the state board finds that an authorizing body is not engaging in appropriate continuing oversight of 1 or more strict discipline academies operating under a contract issued by the authorizing body, the state board may suspend the power of the authorizing body to issue new contracts to organize and operate strict discipline 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.

(6) An authorizing body shall not charge a fee, or require reimbursement of expenses, for considering an application for a contract, for issuing a contract, or for providing oversight of a contract for a strict discipline academy in an amount that exceeds a combined total of 3% of the total state school aid received by the strict discipline academy in the school year in which the fees or expenses are charged. An authorizing body may provide other services for a strict discipline academy and charge a fee for those services, but shall not require such an arrangement as a condition to issuing the contract authorizing the strict discipline academy.

(7) A strict discipline academy shall be presumed to be legally organized if it has exercised the franchises and privileges of a strict discipline academy for at least 2 years.

History: Add. 1999, Act 23, Imd. Eff. May 12, 1999 Popular Name: Act 451