The House Democrats unveiled a plan today designed to get more money directly into K-12 classrooms.
"In order to ensure the best education possible for each and every one of Michigan's students, we must fund all of our school districts equally through the state per-pupil allocation system," said State Representative Tim Melton (D-Pontiac), chair of the House Education Committee. "Education is the great equalizer for our urban and rural areas. As lawmakers, education is our No. 1 priority. Investing in areas of education will benefit Michigan businesses and families and make our state a leader in the 21st century global economy."
...
"The school funding equity program will open the door of opportunity for our children, preparing them for competition in tomorrow's global economy," said State Representative Matt Gillard (D-Alpena). "Kids deserve to have equal access to quality education and this package will level the playing field. This is the right answer for Michigan."
The plan is designed to narrow the gap between the lowest- and highest-funded school districts. For more information, visit the House Dems online.
On Monday, October 8, 2007, House Democrats will unveil a new plan to give the state's lowest-funded schools more money to hire additional teachers, reduce class sizes and distribute necessary education resources. The plan will ensure schools have the resources they need for all of Michigan's students to receive the best education possible.
To unveil the plan, have scheduled several press conferences throughout the state. Details over the fold.
(State Senator Irma Clark-Coleman served two terms in the State House of Representatives, before being elected to the State Senate in 2002. As a result of her many years of educational experience, she was appointed to the National Education Commission in 2004.
The Senator represents District 3, which is entirely in Wayne County. Welcome to BFM, Senator! - promoted by Christine)
A new school year will begin in less than one month, and we will have again missed an opportunity to give many Michigan children the start to their educations they need and deserve. Believe it or not, Michigan still does not require children to attend kindergarten. For years, I have worked to increase this access and have again introduced SB 162, which would make full-day kindergarten mandatory for all Michigan children. And what better time than as we await fall school opening and a budget agreement?
August is "Get Ready for Kindergarten" Month. Part of preparing children to learn in kindergarten is ensuring that every child has access to this proven and necessary component of early development. In fact, experts agree, children achieve far more success in grade school and beyond if they attend full-day kindergarten. If we are serious about creating a well-trained and educated workforce to move our state and our economy forward, we must start at the beginning.
Ever since the 1930s, kindergarten has been delivered as primarily a half-day program. Parents had the option of sending their children or not. But education has made some pretty great strides in the past 70+ years, and part of that progress includes recognizing the value of full-day mandatory kindergarten. Years of research have shown that full-day kindergarten gives children an academic, social and developmental edge over their half-day counterparts.
