Detroit City Wire

Senator Michael Webber has introduced new legislation aimed at improving school enrollment accountability in Michigan. The move comes after the discovery of three children living in poor conditions in Pontiac, reportedly abandoned by their mother for several years.

“This tragic case was compounded because these children fell through an enormous gap in the enrollment system that should not be there,” said Webber, R-Rochester Hills. “The Legislature has a duty to close this record-keeping loophole and equip our schools with a solution to safeguard vulnerable children across our state.”

Webber’s Senate Bill 506 is part of a bipartisan effort and works alongside Senate Bill 492, which was introduced by Senator Jeremy Moss, D-Southfield. The bills would prevent public and nonpublic schools from dropping students based only on a record request. Schools would need written confirmation that a student has enrolled elsewhere before removing them from their rolls.

“The bills will ensure our schools have the means to keep track of the students who have been entrusted to their care,” Webber said. “We build stronger, healthier and safer communities when we work to protect our students.”

Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard spoke about the recent case before the Senate Committee on Education. He noted that if safeguards had been in place, it might have prevented what happened to the Pontiac children.

“When these children’s mother withdrew them from the school or asked for the transcripts to be sent, there was no follow up or safeguards in place to ensure they were actually enrolled elsewhere,” Bouchard said. “They simply vanished from the system.”

Senate Bill 506 also serves as a companion measure to House Bill 4416, sponsored by State Representative Tom Kuhn, R-Troy.