Education: public school academies; certain authorizer and educational management organization information on school signage, advertising, and promotional materials; require. Amends sec. 523 of 1976 PA 451 (MCL 380.523).

2023-2024 Regular Session

HB 5234 requires urban high school academies to disclose the authorizing body and primary EMO in signage, ads, websites, and enrollment forms to boost transparency.

assigned PA 213'24

#education:publicschoolacademies

Main purpose

Require greater public disclosure about who authorizes and who manages certain charter schools by making the names of the authorizing body and the school’s primary educational management organization (EMO) visible in signage, promotional materials, websites, and enrollment applications. The change is intended to increase transparency for families and the community about who is responsible for a school's operations.

Key provisions

Contracts: Any contract to organize and operate an urban high school academy that is entered into, extended, renewed, or modified on or after the bill’s effective date must include a requirement that the school’s board of directors list (or verbally provide, where applicable) the names of:

The authorizing body (e.g., school district board, intermediate school district board, community college board, or state public university board where applicable), and
The school’s primary educational management organization (if applicable).

Where the names must appear (for materials created, modified, installed, or distributed on or after the effective date):

Signage on school property that is erected, repaired, or installed (unless prohibited by local ordinance or zoning).
Promotional material such as billboards, internet advertisements, television or radio ads.
The footer of the school’s web pages.
The student enrollment application required to attend the school.

Definition: “Primary educational management organization” means an EMO that provides both administrative services/staff and educational/instructional services/staff to the school.

Scope: HB 5234 applies specifically to urban high school academies; companion bills (HB 5231–5233) apply similar requirements to other types of public school academies (PSAs, schools of excellence, strict discipline academies).

Who is affected

Urban high school academy boards and their authorizing bodies.

Educational management organizations that provide both administrative and instructional services.

Prospective students and families (will see/receive disclosure when applying or reviewing school materials).

Local authorizers who must include this requirement in new or modified contracts.

Timeline / procedural information

Enacted as Public Act No. 213 (assigned PA 213’24).

Approved by the Governor: January 17, 2025.

Filed with the Secretary of State: January 17, 2025.

Effective date: April 2, 2025.

The disclosure requirement applies only to signage, promotional material, websites, and applications created, modified, installed, or distributed on or after the effective date — existing materials need not be retroactively replaced.

Fiscal impact and other notes

Nonpartisan analyses found no state fiscal impact and only minimal, likely absorbable costs for schools (costs limited to new/updated materials).

Physical-signage requirement may be limited where local ordinances or zoning prohibit such signage.

The policy objective is increased transparency about authorizers and management entities rather than new operational mandates or funding changes.

Bill