Whitmer Proposes Budget Increase for Education
Feb 13, 2020
MEA Capitol Comments
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer launched the process for developing next year’s state budget with a proposed spending plan that includes increases for education and weighted funding for students who are costlier to educate.
Whitmer is proposing a $415 million increase in K-12 funding and additional money for universities and community colleges.
Under the Whitmer plan, base per-pupil funding would increase $150-220 per student with additional dollars going toward special education, English language learners, and economically disadvantaged students.
MEA lobbyists will continue to monitor the budget closely throughout the appropriations process. The House and Senate will issue their budget proposals in the spring.
Continue reading . . .
Ed Trust-Midwest: Major Hike in Education Funding Needed, Needs to Double in High Poverty Districts
Feb 13, 2020
AFT Michigan
"Michigan is one of only 16 states providing less funding to its highest poverty districts than its lowest-poverty districts, " writes Ed Trust-Midwest in its report released last week: Michigan's School Funding: Crisis and Opportunity. This report reinforces recent findings of the School Finance Research Collaborative and Michigan State University. The MSU study reported that between 1995 and 2015, "Michigan had the lowest total education revenue growth of all 50 states,” and, when adjusted for inflation, "Michigan’s per-pupil funding declined by 22 percent between 2002 and 2015."
Ed Trust-Midwest’s suggested principles for K-12 funding include: funding according to student need (equity), more funding to districts with lower fiscal capacity, and accountability and transparency on how funds are spent. All three studies cited call for significant increases in K-12 funding--the Ed Trust report calls for doubling funding for students from low-income backgrounds." AFT Michigan
MEA-RETIRED ON-LINE VOTING BEGINS FEBRUARY 3
Jan 25, 2020
MEA-RETIRED ON-LINE VOTING FEBRUARY 3-14, 2020
Beginning February 3, 2020, MEA-Retired members will begin casting their ballots for MEA-Retired delegates to the MEA Representative Assembly, the NEA Representative Assembly, and the NEA-Retired Annual Meeting, as well as Region Directors (Odd numbered regions). Lifetime NEA/MEA Members are encouraged to vote in these on-line elections.
ON-LINE VOTING WILL BEGIN ON FEBRUARY 3, 2020 AT 8 AM EST AND WILL CONTINUE UNTIL 4 PM EST ON FEBRUARY 14, 2020
Voting instructions have been sent to all Lifetime members who have their email on file with MEA-Retired. Here's how - You can use your own computer, your neighbor's, your grandchildren's or one at your local library. If you are not sure if you are a member you can call MEA at (800) 292-1934 and ask for membership. You also could send an email to staff@mea-retired.org.
Michigan’s primary is March 10.
Jan 23, 2020
Absent voter ballots are available to registered voters for all elections in Michigan. You do not need to provide a reason to use this convenient method of voting. Learn more and get an application: https://www.michigan.gov/sos/0,4670,7-127-1633_8716-21037--,00.html
Whitmer, GOP clash on Michigan ban on public funds for private schools
Jan 10, 2020
Bridge Magazine January 10, 2020
“LANSING – What began as a partisan fight over modest school reimbursements may morph into a major battle over Michigan’s ban on public funding for private education.
And the state’s highest court this year could decide the case that is being closely watched nationwide by all sides of the schools of choice debate.
Religious and non-public school groups in late December asked the Michigan Supreme Court to strike down the 1970 state constitutional amendment prohibiting taxpayer funding for private schools, arguing it was motivated by anti-Catholic bias and violates the free exercise clause of the U.S. Constitution.
The ban “covertly suppresses particular religious beliefs,” attorneys for the Michigan Catholic Conference and the Michigan Association of Non-Public Schools wrote in a court filing. “There is no compelling state interest to justify its prohibition against secular education to religious schools.”
The ban applies to all private schools, and supporters say even small funding opens the door to the kind of school voucher programs Michigan voters rejected in 2000 despite an aggressive campaign backed by Betsy DeVos, who now serves as U.S. secretary of education.
“Michigan voters keep reaffirming that they want public tax dollars to go exclusively to public schools,” said Dan Korobkin, legal director for the ACLU of Michigan, a plaintiff in the case. He called arguments against the state constitution a “side issue” in a lawsuit over specific spending plans.
“There’s no reason why states should not be able to say we're dedicated to public education, so we're going to use tax dollars for public schools," Korobkin said. “And that's all that Michigan is doing here.”” Continue Reading Bridge Magazine January 10, 2020
