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Legislation
Introduced to Put Programs Back into the Michigan Dept of
Education
from Gongwer News
Service, October 1, 2002
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www.bridges4kids.org.
Legislation is already working its way through
the House (HB 6455-HB 6458) to implement changes to the
state's educational program structure. Rep. Doug Hart
(R-Rockford) introduced bills just before the campaign break
that would move all of the education-related functions back
into the Department of Education from the Departments of
Treasury, Career Development and Management and Budget. The
bills also would put the Michigan Virtual University under the
DOE banner.
"Michigan is in need of continuity of vision in the
implementation of K-12 education policy," Mr. Hart said. "We
need one vision, one team and one organization focused on
serving Michigan's children."
"Consolidating education policy again under the authority of
the elected State Board of Education is the best way to
provide accountability to the citizens of Michigan," said
Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Watkins.
The specific programs the bills would move, in addition to the
MVU, are the Michigan Educational Assessment Program from
Treasury, the Center for Educational Performance and
Information from DMB, vocational education and adult education
from Career Development and the Commission on Asia from the
Department of History, Arts and Libraries.
The proposals would have to garner significant support in the
Legislature because they will not see it from the executive
office. "I know we're not going to support it," said Susan
Shafer, communications director for Governor John Engler. She
said the governor had moved the programs to the places he felt
they would be best run.
"The Michigan Department of Career Development is a national
model for the way we set up that department," Ms. Shafer said.
"Grouping those together is actually something a lot of other
states aspire to," she said of the vocational education and
adult education programs.
"Tom Watkins would rather put these programs in the hands of a
do nothing state board," she said.
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