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Educators urge lawmakers to remove Michiganshared-time growth cap, citing wait lists and penalties
Summary
Educators told the House appropriations subcommittee that the 5% shared-time growth cap in the State School Aid Act limits part-time enrollment from nonpublic and homeschool students, creates operational burdens, and can trigger financial penalties when districts exceed the cap.
LANSING Dr. Rebecca Redmer, executive director of innovative programming at Jenison Public Schools, told the House Appropriations Subcommittee on School Aid that Michigan's 5% shared-time growth cap is preventing districts from enrolling nonpublic and homeschool students in part-time courses and is producing wait lists and financial penalties.
"This is an antiquated policy that was, that's creating problems for us today," Dr. Rebecca Redmer said, arguing the cap was adopted before the rise of digital learning and the post-COVID enrollment decline.
The issue: funding for "shared time" students (nonpublic and homeschool students who take courses from public districts) is calculated as a fraction of full-time equivalent (FTE) based on courses taken. Redmer explained that in a six-period day, one…
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