Late Edition: Governor Whitmer’s Education Budget & Appointments. Plus education news and more from The Education Trust Midwest.

Mar 5, 2019 by edtrustmidwest

Governor Whitmer Prioritizes Equity & Access in First Education Budget

This morning, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer presented her first budget. This proposal – which would fund Michigan government including schools beginning on October 1, 2019 – sends a clear message about Governor Whitmer’s priorities.

When it comes to Michigan schools, Governor Whitmer has focused first on beginning to fund based on the needs of the student, while also promoting greater access to Michigan community colleges, trade schools, and 4-year colleges and universities.

Over the next several months, the Michigan House and Senate will work through the budget, with the goal of approving a final budget in June. The Education Trust-Midwest will keep you updated on the education budget process and progress through our weekly updates.

Highlights from the School Aid Executive Budget Recommendation Include:

A boost of $120 – $180 per pupil in the foundation allowance – the base funding for each student from the State to each school district or charter schools.
An increase of $102 million to “at-risk” funding. These funds are intended to make school funding more equitable by providing additional resources to meet the additional learning needs of students from low-income families and other vulnerable populations. Additionally, the Governor has proposed $120 million more in funds to support special education services.
Greater access to reading support in elementary school by tripling the number of reading coaches and continuing other early literacy supports.
Recommitting to using the School Aid Fund exclusively for funding public schools by shifting public university funding back to the general fund, rather than the School Aid Fund.

The Education Trust-Midwest looks forward to working with the Governor and the legislature to ensure that education spending is fair, equitable and rooted in data and best practice from leading education states.

Johnson Tapped as Adviser

Yesterday, Bridge Magazine first reported that Brandy Johnson would serve an adviser, focusing on postsecondary education and workforce.

Johnson is a long time advocate for educational equity and policies that help make postsecondary education accessible to all Michiganders. In 2010, she founded the Michigan College Access Network (MCAN) and has led the organization as it’s executive director since. Under her leadership, MCAN has built the capacity of local college access networks, convened leaders in the space, focused on and shared data and research, and invested in programs to make college more accessible, affordable, and improve completion rates.

Capital Update

House Education Committee met this morning on House Bill 4206 (Frederick, R), which would excuse public schools from the requirement to make up instructional days and hours, if the school was closed during a state of emergency. Governor Whitmer declared a State of Emergency due to extremely cold temperatures during the week of January 28, 2019.

Under current Michigan law, schools are not required to make up instructional time for the first six days of canceled school because of conditions outside of the school’s control, such as severe weather. The State Superintendent of Public Instruction may also grant waivers for up to three additional missed days.

It is unclear how this proposal would impact school closures during local states of emergency, such as the state of emergency for Ionia County from February 13-March 9, 2019.

Michigan House and Senate Appropriations Committees met today at 11:00 a.m. for the presentation of Governor Whitmer’s Fiscal Year 2020 and 2021 Budget Recommendation. Highlights of the School Aid Budget Recommendation are listed above.

Senate Education and Career Readiness Committee will meet today at noon in room 1300 of the Binsfeld Office Building for a presentation by the Michigan Department of Education.

ASC Higher Education and Community Colleges Appropriations Subcommittee will meet on Thursday, March 7 at 9:00 a.m. in room 519 of the House Office Building. Agenda: Presentations by Central Michigan University, Ferris State University and Michigan Independent Colleges & Universities (MICU). Other state universities have presented to this subcommittee in recent weeks.

Michigan State Board of Education will meet on Tuesday, March 12 on the Fourth Floor of the John A. Hannah Building beginning at 9:30 a.m. The agenda will be posted here.