HB 4149 would amend the Revised School Code to require school districts, intermediate school districts, and public school academies to make school transparency information easier for parents and the public to find. By July 1, 2026, each district or academy board would have to post a link on its public website to the MI School Data parent dashboard for each school it operates.
The bill also requires, subject to appropriation, annual notice to parents or legal guardians beginning July 1, 2027, and every year after. That notice must include school data from the MI School Data education dashboard and the school’s state assessment performance by subject area from the parent dashboard. In addition, the Center for Educational Performance and Information (CEPI) would be directed to expand the MI School Data education dashboard to incorporate parent-dashboard information and add a comparison function for public schools statewide.
Impact
The bill would add a new section 1280h to the Revised School Code and impose new website-posting and parent-notification duties on school districts, intermediate school districts, and public school academies. It would also require CEPI to modify the MI School Data website to broaden available transparency data and enable school-to-school comparisons. The practical effect is to increase public access to school performance information and create a recurring reporting obligation for schools, with implementation of the annual parent notice dependent on appropriation.
Sentiment
The available voting history suggests generally strong support for the bill. It was reported from committee 7-0 with a recommendation for a substitute and then passed the House on third reading 86-19 with immediate effect. No committee transcript was provided, so there is no recorded debate here, but the vote margins indicate broad bipartisan approval with some opposition.
Contention
The main point of potential contention is the added administrative burden on school districts, intermediate school districts, and public school academies, especially the annual parent notification requirement and the need to maintain website links and data access. Another possible issue is the bill’s dependence on appropriation for the annual notice requirement, which could affect implementation timing or consistency. Opposition, as reflected in the House vote, appears limited but present, likely centered on cost, workload, or concerns about how performance data is presented and compared.