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Action needed to support additional state education spending

Oct 12, 2019

Budget conversations in Lansing have picked back up after Gov. Whitmer’s efforts to jump start negotiations last week.  Now, MEA members need to contact their lawmakers to advocate for supplemental budget bills that fund various priorities cut because of the lack of a comprehensive solution to the budget.

In particular, these areas need to be funded to provide students with the educational opportunities they deserve:

•             $7 million for isolated school districts (HB 5093/SB 575).

•             $350,000 on a pilot program to train 60 providers on autism treatment (HB 5082/SB 552).

•             $10.5 million for the state to cover the full cost of tripling the number of literacy coaches, rather than splitting the       costs with ISDs (SB 577).

•             $110 million to fund the first two years of Michigan Reconnect program (SB 577).

•             Plus additional funding for at-risk education programs, providing additional resources for some of our students who need it most.

These areas – plus many more – would have received funding through Gov. Whitmer’s budget proposal this spring.  However, real negotiations with GOP legislative leaders didn’t happen over the summer months leading to the governor using line-item vetoes to bring everyone back to the table.  MEA continues to support the need for real revenue solutions to fully invest in Michigan education and infrastructure, while also meeting the need for this essential funding for Michigan students.

Please contact lawmakers and urge them to negotiate and provide schools and students with this necessary funding.