educational current issue

Michigan Funding of Public SchoolsKirstin Holman

Why the panic? Problem

Michigan cutting

more funds from

public schools

Why You Should Care

Elimination of programs and jobs

Future Teachers

Michigan Residents

Michigan has finances?

Provides 80% of funding

$2.7 billion in the red

Budget cut of $1.8 billion needed

100 out of 551 districts overspent in 2009

2.9% or $382 million drop in funding

Author: Matthileo

Who gets the blame?Recession Less revenue

Overspending

Minimal movement of funds

Proposal ADistricts have little control

“School of Choice”

http://www.flickr.com/photos/pfala/2402698820/

What is Proposal A?

1994

Funding responsibility on state

Sales tax 6%

Personal Income tax 4.4%

State educational property tax

GOAL: Change Foundation Allowance for education provided by state and fiscal differences between districts

What does Proposal A do for us?

The Good

1994: 32 states better funding distribution

2000: 17 states

2004: Per pupil spending above national average

Higher test scores

The not so Good

Slowdown in Revenue

General Fund to Spending Levels

Districts cannot propose additional taxes

School of Choice effects

How much?• Cut $127/pupil • 25% cut early childhood grants• 44% or $36.3 million from intermediate programs

Author: Alan

Smythee

What does this mean for students?

- Shuffling of students

- Increased class sizes

- Programs eliminated

- Increased home schooling

Author: Jfraser

Author:

Eva the Weaver

What is being done?

Cutting/combining areas of government

Legislation

Media attention

Other locations

Author: Travelin’ John

Where is our government at?

2010 budget bills: passed

Temporary Budget

Does not agree, no discussion

“We are not pulling together to protect those things most needed to grow a healthy state, and one of those things is excellence in public education.”

-Albert Garrett, president of Michigan Council 25

What do we know?•Minimal control over funding•Restrictions on tax proposals

•Funding follows students•Overhead costs

•Need constant flow of funds•Government decisions take time•Unpredictable

Why do we care?

Ongoing process

Not only K-12 affected

Future Educators

Job Opportunities

Class sizes

Classes not offered

Everyone

REFERENCES Hornbeck, M., & Bouffard, K. (2009, September 24). State's budget ax hits schools. Retrieved October 28, 2009, from http://www.detnews.com/article/20090924/POLITICS02/909240429/State-s-budget-ax-hits-schools

Mattoon, R. (2004, June). School funding ten years after Michigan's proposal A: Does equity equal adequacy?. Retrieved October 28, 2009, from http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3631/is_200406/ai_n9433961/?tag=content;col1

Williams, C., & Bouffard, K. (2008, November 1). School funding ten years after Michigan Parents Consider Home the Best School of Choice for Them. Retrieved October 20, 2009, from http://www.heartland.org/publications/school%20reform/article/24067/Michigan_Parents_Consider_Home_the_Best_School_of_Choice_for_Them.html

Luke, P. (2009, October 9). State lawmakers settle funding for K-12 schools, cuts per pupil spending by $165. Retrieved October 26, 2009, from http://www.mlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2009/10/state_lawmakers_settle_funding.htmlhttp://www.mlive.com/michigan-job-search/index.ssf/2009/10/top_union_official_in_michigan_says_k-12.html

Martin, T. (2009, October 23). Granholm rallies school leaders to seek more money, Retrieved October 26, 2009, from http://www.newsday.com/news/nation/granholm-rallies-school-leaders-to-seek-more-money-1.1543684