Month: May 2019

LANSING, Mich. —  The School Finance Research Collaborative today called on Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and the Legislature to work together to fix Michigan’s broken school funding method to make it fair for all students.

“Now is the time for Gov. Whitmer and the Legislature to come together and fix Michigan’s obsolete school funding approach to meet the unique, individual learning needs of all students, regardless of income, zip code, learning challenges or other circumstances,” said Dr. Wanda Cook-Robinson, School Finance Research Collaborative Project Director. “Michigan’s students continue falling behind, and the governor and lawmakers must adopt a new, fairer school funding plan that helps all kids succeed.”

In 2018, the School Finance Research Collaborative completed Michigan’s first comprehensive school adequacy study that determined the true cost of educating all students to make the way we fund schools more fair. The final Collaborative report provides a base cost for student achievement in Michigan, with additional funding considerations for special education, English Language Learners, Career and Technical Education programs and students living in poverty. The Collaborative is a diverse, bipartisan group of business leaders and education experts, from Metro Detroit to the U.P., who agree it’s time to fix Michigan’s broken school funding approach.

Gov. Whitmer’s 2020 budget proposal supports the School Finance Research Collaborative’s research, including a weighted formula for special education, low-income and at-risk children, and Career and Technical Education programs. The governor’s budget proposal is a significant step forward in helping all kids succeed.

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For media inquiries, contact Christopher Behnan, Byrum & Fisk Communications, at (517) 333-1606, ext. 1

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — The West Michigan Talent Triangle supports Gov. Whitmer’s 2020 education budget, which incorporates the School Finance Research Collaborative  findings to help all students achieve and succeed.

“The West Michigan Talent Triangle supports Gov. Whitmer’s school funding plan, which uses nationally recognized research to make key investments so all students have the opportunity to get a high-quality education and compete for the jobs of the future,” said Tom TenBrink, superintendent of Jenison Public Schools. “The governor’s budget proposal also makes progress on ending the shell games played with the School Aid Fund by removing university funding. The voters were explicit in their intent to have the School Aid Fund used for K-12 education. We look forward to working with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle to put it into action.”

If passed, the governor’s budget would create a weighted formula to improve classroom resources for:

• Special education needs
• Low-income and at-risk children
• Career and Technical Education programs

The West Michigan Talent Triangle is an education advocacy organization representing Kent, Muskegon and Ottawa Area ISDs and their 42 member school districts.

In 2018, the School Finance Research Collaborative completed Michigan’s first comprehensive school adequacy study that determined the true cost of educating all students to make the way we fund schools more fair. The Collaborative is a diverse group of business leaders and education experts, from Metro Detroit to the U.P., who agree it’s time to change the way Michigan’s schools are funded.

The final Collaborative report provides a base cost for student achievement in Michigan, with additional funding considerations for special education, English Language Learners, Career and Technical Education programs, students living in poverty, preschool, geographic isolation, district size, cost of living differences and student transportation.

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For media inquiries, contact Christopher Behnan, Byrum & Fisk Communications, at (517) 333-1606, ext. 1

LANSING, Mich. — The School Finance Research Collaborative today congratulated Kalamazoo Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Michael Rice for being named Michigan Superintendent of Schools. As a Collaborative member, Rice has helped provide the roadmap for a new, fairer school funding approach that serves all students.

“Dr. Rice has played an important role in the Collaborative’s efforts to fix Michigan’s broken school funding approach and make it fair for all students, and we congratulate him on his new role as the head of our public schools,” said Dr. Wanda Cook-Robinson, Collaborative Project Director. “With Dr. Rice at the helm, Michigan is taking a giant step forward in meeting the unique, individual needs of all students, regardless of zip code, income, learning challenges or other circumstances.”

Dr. Randy Liepa, Wayne RESA superintendent and a Collaborative member, was also a finalist for the position.

The Michigan Board of Education on Tuesday selected Rice to serve as Superintendent of Schools, replacing the late Brian Whiston as the state’s chief public schools official. Rice has led Kalamazoo Public Schools since 2007, overseeing enrollment growth, improved student achievement and increased graduation rates in his district.

The Collaborative is a diverse group of business leaders and education experts, from Metro Detroit to the U.P., who agree it’s time to change the way Michigan’s schools are funded. The Collaborative has provided Michigan’s first comprehensive school adequacy study that determined the true cost of educating a child and making the way we fund our schools more fair.

The final Collaborative report provides a base cost for student achievement in Michigan, with additional funding considerations for special education, English Language Learners, Career and Technical Education programs, students living in poverty, preschool, geographic isolation, district size, cost of living differences and student transportation.

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For media inquiries, contact Christopher Behnan, Byrum & Fisk Communications, at (517) 333-1606, ext. 1

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — The School Finance Research Collaborative on Wednesday was honored with the Michigan School Business Officials’ (MSBO) 2019 Friend of Education Award, given to people or organizations dedicated to serving  the best interests of education and students.

“The School Finance Research Collaborative is truly honored to accept the MSBO’s Friend of Education award as we continue our mission to fix Michigan’s broken school funding approach and provide an adequate and equitable education to all students,” said Dr. Wanda Cook-Robinson, Collaborative Project Director, who accepted the award at the MSBO’s annual conference at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel. “We look forward to working with Gov. Whitmer and lawmakers from both parties to create a new school funding method that helps all students achieve and succeed, no matter their circumstances.”

The MSBO Board of Directors selects Friend of Education recipients based on their outstanding support of education in Michigan and dedication to serving the best interests of education and students.

“We are proud to recognize the School Finance Research Collaborative as a Friend of Education as it continues to support a school funding system that serves the unique needs all students,” said Mike Hagerty, MSBO Board President and Kent ISD Assistant Superintendent of Administrative Services. “The Collaborative has provided the roadmap for a new school funding approach that helps all students achieve and succeed.”

The MSBO was founded in 1937 as a nonprofit corporation to serve the multifaceted interests of education.

In 2018, the School Finance Research Collaborative completed Michigan’s first comprehensive school adequacy study that determined the true cost of educating all students to make the way we fund schools more fair. The Collaborative is a diverse group of business leaders and education experts, from Metro Detroit to the U.P., who agree it’s time to change the way Michigan’s schools are funded.

The final Collaborative report provides a base cost for student achievement in Michigan, with additional funding considerations for special education, English Language Learners, Career and Technical Education programs, students living in poverty, preschool, geographic isolation, district size, cost of living differences and student transportation.

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For media inquiries, contact Christopher Behnan, Byrum & Fisk Communications, at (517) 333-1606, ext. 1