|
 Freeze
It For The Kids
MIRS, November 20, 2003
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Gov. Jennifer
GRANHOLM's office is shopping around the idea of pausing the
scheduled .10 percent cut in the income tax with the $115
million in projected savings going toward softening the
scheduled K-12 budget cuts.
Under the idea, the income tax pause would be part of a larger
package to reduce the $196-per-student pro-rata cut in the K-12
budget to $70 per pupil.
"Educating our children ought to be our No. 1 priority," said
Granholm Press Secretary Liz BOYD. "The governor is standing up
for our children by suggesting a pause in the scheduled income
tax reduction to lessen the impact of cuts to education."
The comments come two days after Granholm initially decided
against proposing an income tax freeze as part of her
introductory proposal to legislators on filling the $920 million
hole in this year's state budget during a close-door meeting on
Tuesday. Democratic lawmakers kept the discussion on the freeze
going during that particular meeting and Granholm has insisted
that the freeze has always been on the table.
Boyd said she was willing to confirm today's income tax freeze
rumor to clear up any confusion that may be still lingering
about. The governor's press secretary declined to talk about any
further specifics, however, to respect her agreement with
lawmakers to negotiate at the table, not in the media.
The pro-rata cuts scheduled to take effect on Dec. 20 would
reduce the $6,700 per-pupil grant by $196. Granholm pitch would
reduce that cut to $70. In exchange, the state's income tax rate
would stay at 4 percent in 2004 as opposed to 3.9 percent, as
currently scheduled.
Granholm has consistently maintained that she doesn't view a
freeze in the income tax rollback as a tax increase. In the
Sept. 20, 2002, edition of MIRS then-candidate Jennifer Granholm
was asked if keeping the tax rate at 4.1 percent was a tax
increase.
At the time she said, "I don't see it as a tax increase, but I
do think it breaks a promise that people were going to get a
cut."
Asked if Granholm still feel of freeze would be breaking that
promise, Boyd said, "We didn't make the promise. What we've done
is promised that we'll protect K-12 education. That's not to say
we wouldn't like to keep that commitment, but this budget
deficit begs a solution."
Granholm's big sell will be to a reluctant Republican
Legislature. Speaker Rick JOHNSON's (R-LeRoy) spokesman Matt
RESCH said that while "everything is on the table" the Speaker
has always believed that the state could fill the state's budget
crunch by cuts alone.
"By reducing the income tax, we're breaking a promise to
taxpayers," Resch said.
Bill NOWLING, spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Ken SIKKEMA
(R-Wyoming), declined comment on the suggestion until the entire
budget-balancing proposal is put together. Until then, he
parroted the catch phrase of the month, "everything is on
table."
Rep. Leon DROLET (R-Clinton Twp.) and Rep. Jack HOOGENDYK
(R-Kalamazoo) were quick to blast the plan in a joint press
release put out by the "House Tax Payer Protection Caucus."
"The government spent its way into this problem and government
should cut its way out," Drolet said. "Michigan families didn't
create this deficit and they should not be paying the bill for
it."
Yet, if there is any circumstance under which some Republicans
may go along for an income tax rollback freeze, it would be for
K-12 education, said consultant John TRUSCOTT.
"It's the only thing that can give them cover," he said. "It's
easy in politics to resort to pitting any group against
education because education almost always wins."
This is assuming that Republican leadership doesn't have a
counter-proposal, which they most likely will have, Truscott
added. "I assume that they have some other ideas that are just
as creative."
Rep. John MOOLENAAR (R-Midland), chair of the House
Appropriations Subcommittee on Education, said there likely
would be some interest in pursuing the governor's proposal, but
that he could only see an income tax pause as the "last item out
of the box."
"If there's one area under which the freeze would be considered,
it would be K-12," he said. "If that's her plan, she should
outline it and actively pursue it."
Johnson and Sikkema are scheduled to have their second
discussion with Budget Director Mary LANNOYE on Friday.
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What's New
Department of Education To Partner on NCLB Requirements
MIRS, November 20, 2003
As reported in the Nov. 19 edition of MIRS, the State Board of
Education today voted unanimously to have the Department of
Education enter into a partnership with outside experts to help
ensure that Michigan meets the benchmarks set forth in the
federal No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act.
The Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) and MGT of
America will provide the assistance at a cost of $100,000 for
the program. CCSSO will pick up half the cost with the remainder
to be funded from outside sources.
In other action:
Even though the Department of Education does not yet have
control over testing benchmarks in the Michigan Education
Assessment Program (MEAP), the State Board of Education
nonetheless unanimously approved new grade level testing content
to meet the (NCLB) requirements.
In the 1999 Executive Order signed by former Gov. John ENGLER
transferring MEAP from the Department of Education to the
Department of Treasury, the authority over benchmark standards
was assigned to Treasury and the Michigan Merit Scholarship
Board.
The Executive Order issued by Gov. Jennifer GRANHOLM in October
transferring MEAP responsibilities back to the Department of
Education does not take effect until Dec..21 pending legislative
review.
Today's action by the Board of Education approves new grade
level content with the declaration that it takes effect on Dec.
21.
Before the vote, there were questions by some board members over
whether action should be delayed until the new executive order
takes effect. State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom
WATKINS opposed a delay saying, "We need to move boldly" so that
new tests can be developed on time to meet NCLB mandates.
The Board also approved contracting with two national experts to
develop a "white paper" outlining the positive and negative
consequences as well as the crucial issues or decisions involved
in replacing the current MEAP tests with a standardized national
assessment test.
To be included are assessments on replacing the elementary,
middle and high school MEAP tests and retaining the current
elementary and middle school tests but replacing the MEAP test
at the high school level.
Deputy Superintendent and Chief Academic Officer Jeremy HUGHES
said rather than having the Department of Education "drawn into
one side or the other of the battle" over the MEAP test issue,
it was determined the "white paper" assessment would be the best
course of action.
Hughes said he expects the assessment to be completed and
presented to the department by the holiday break in December.
Estimated cost for the project is $6,400 to $8,000.
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What's New
ED Yes Report Cards Delayed Until January 30
and Other Action From 11/20 Meeting of Michigan State Board of
Education
Gongwer News Service, November 20, 2003
After being inundated with appeals of grades proposed under the
Education YES! accreditation system, the Department of Education
has put off public release of those report cards until the end
of January.
Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Watkins told the State
Board of Education at its regular meeting Thursday that the
report cards could not be completed until the department had
disposed of the 1,200 appeals from schools around the state.
Mr. Watkins said the department had planned to release the
report cards on December 5, but has not been able to resolve the
massive number of appeals in the 30 days required.
"We want to move forward in a way that adds value to teaching
and learning," Mr. Watkins said, also noting that new
legislation forbids the department from releasing the
information until it is all determined to be correct.
"I think you have to do it right," said board President Kathleen
Straus (D-Detroit). "You can't just put it out if it's not
right."
Mr. Watkins said the number of appeals is tied largely to the
weight being placed on the report cards. He likened it to
parents questioning the teacher over a D grade.
CURRICULUM STANDARDS: The board Thursday also adopted new
curriculum standards that will be used in developing the new
grade-level mathematics and reading tests required under the
federal No Child Left Behind Act. The new standards not only
break the prior standards, which were divided into grade
groupings, into specific grade-level expectations, but also make
the expectations for each grade more stringent.
Adoption of the new standards is remarkable not because of the
changes, which are essentially required to comply with the
federal law, but because the board adopted them at all. The
authority to adopt the standards currently rests with the Merit
Award Board in the Department of Treasury until December 21,
when the executive order (EO 2003-20) officials moves the
Michigan Educational Assessment Program back to the Department
of Education.
But Chief Academic Officer Jeremy Hughes told to the board that
there was not time to wait on adopting the new standards. Not
only does the department need to get the new standards out to
teachers so they can begin adapting their coursework to meet the
new standards, but he said the department is already two months
behind in getting the standards to the company developing the
new tests.
Mr. Hughes acknowledged the proper domain for approving the
standards was the Merit board, but he said that board would not
be able to meet until mid-December, just a week before authority
over the issues moves to the State Board of Education. And he
said the Merit board would need as much education on the issue
as the state board had been provided because members of the
board had not been as involved in the process of preparing the
new standards since former Merit Director Michael Boulus left
that post.
"We need to get this out in the field and the test development
contractor has been waiting for these expectations," he said.
"We have to move forward on this," Mr. Watkins said. "I
certainly do not want our tests in grades 3 through 8 to be
based on yesterday's news, yesterday's standards."
Getting the information to the test development contractor is
key to having the new questions ready in time to be piloted
before the full testing begins during the 2004-05 school year,
Mr. Hughes said.
The department also has some work ahead of it to help teachers
understand and adapt to the new standards, Mr. Hughes said.
Officials are working on supplemental documents that would help
teachers compare the new requirements to the current standards
and work the new standards into their classrooms.
Teacher of the Year Bill Cecil said the department is going to
have to work with teachers to get them to accept the new
standards. "I think you have a good product but I think it's
going to be difficult to market it," he said. "You're going to
get concerns that you're moving the target again."
The department is also looking at moving the tests gradually
toward the new standards. "(Teachers) are concerned about the
ability of students who have not been through the 3-8 program
meeting the new standards, perhaps the children were not at that
skill level," he said. "That could have a disastrous on many
schools in meeting adequate yearly progress."
N.C.L.B. ASSISTANCE: The board also unanimously approved a
contract with the Council of Chief State School Officers and MGT
of America to review the department's efforts in implementing No
Child Left Behind to be sure the state is in compliance with the
federal law.
Sandy Kress, who helped President George W. Bush develop the No
Child Left Behind Act and who is now heading the consulting
program, said Michigan was in many ways ahead of other states in
complying with the new federal mandates, but argued an extra set
of eyes on its operations would ensure nothing is missed.
M.E.A.P. CHANGE: The department is asking for help in outlining
whether and how the state could change from the MEAP tests to
some other format, particularly at the high school level. Mr.
Hughes contracted with two testing experts (at $800 per day for
up to five days) to separately review proposals for abandoning
the MEAP altogether and for moving to the ACT test at the high
school level. He said department officials would have a white
paper on the subject based on the consultants' recommendations
by the December meeting.
LIBRARY FUNDING: While schools are struggling with where to cut,
State Librarian Christie Brandau enlisted board members to
encourage schools to maintain library programs. She said
spending on libraries ties directly to outcomes on the MEAP
reading test.
Based on a survey of 600 schools around the state, Ms. Brandau
said there is a direct correlation between library facilities
and staff and children's scores on the MEAP tests. "The more
children have access to reading materials, a library and a
professional librarian, the better they'll read," she said.
"People who have access to a well-funded, well-staffed library
do better on standardized tests."
But she said there is some disparity in the types of library
programs available at schools, and she said that disparity is
not necessarily tied to the wealth of the district.
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What's New
HP Wins Laptop Bid
MIRS, November 24, 2003
The laptop computers Michigan sixth graders will receive as part
of the Freedom to Learn program will come from Hewlett Packard
(HP), the Department of Management and Budget (DMB) told HP
officials late Friday afternoon.
HP beat out four other bidders for the contract and will supply
the laptops at $275 a piece. Apple Computer Co., also met the
contract’s same “not to exceed” price, but was beat out by the
HP because of professional development, curriculum and content
considerations, said DMB spokeswoman Bridget MEDINA.
The other three bidders — Dell Marketing, EduTek Midwest and
Gateway — all bid over the $275-a-piece price.
“HP represented the best value and solution for the ‘Freedom to
Learn’ program,” Medina said. The State Administrative Board
must approve the recommendation, which will likely happen during
the board’s Dec. 16 meeting.
The other factors DMB’s Acquisition Services evaluated were
software, professional development, wireless capability,
infrastructure, performance and quality, insurance, help desk,
delivery and troubleshooting services. The unsuccessful bidders
have until Dec. 5 to protest the award.
As originally proposed, Freedom To Learn was supposed to be a
$39 million state-federal project, but that was halved when Gov.
Jennifer GRANHOLM announced she was taking away the $22 million
in state funding for the project. The federal government’s $17
million will still be used, meaning the Freedom to Learn program
will proceed, but on a more limited scale than previously
planned.
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What's New
Michigan Department of Ed Returns Award Money
MIRS, November 24, 2003
A team of Department of Education employees made a seemingly
small, but symbolic gesture to help the state’s budget deficit
on Friday when they gave the state back $2,200 of the $3,000
they were awarded for streamlining their grant-making process
through the Internet.
The team of employees helped create the Michigan Electronic
Grant System, winning the state’s $3,000 Quality Recognition
System award for their efforts. The employees used a portion of
the money to buy pizzas for the entire Department of Education,
since many employees had a hand in the project. The rest was
returned in to the state’s coffers to help with the state’s $900
million deficit.
“This is an extraordinary generous act by these employees,” said
Superintendent Tom WATKINS. “They could’ve done anything with
that money, but they chose to share it with their fellow
employees and return the lion’s share back to the state because
they know we are in a structural budget deficit.”
The Department of Ed’s team presented a ceremonial check to Gov.
Jennifer GRANHOLM on Friday afternoon in her office.
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What's New
Hardman, Waters Oppose Mayor's Plan For Detroit Schools
Gongwer News Service, November 24, 2003
Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick's proposed major overhaul in
governance of the Detroit Public Schools was dealt a significant
setback Monday with the announcement of opposition to it from
two of the city's most prominent state legislators.
Detroiters should simply proceed with the scheduled November 2
vote on whether to keep the system put in place by the state in
1999 or restore the old system with an elected board, said
Democratic Reps. Artina Tinsley Hardman, the chair of the
Legislative Black Caucus, and Mary Waters, the highest-ranking
Detroit lawmaker as the House minority floor leader.
The 1999 changes ousted the elected school board, replacing it
with one mostly appointed by the mayor and a superintendent with
enhanced powers, especially in hiring and firing. Under this
system, the state superintendent for public instruction also
sits on the board with his or her affirmative vote required on
any superintendent hire.
Mr. Kilpatrick last week proposed a system with an elected
school board, but one with diminished powers compared to the old
one. The mayor would have sole power to hire and fire the
superintendent while the board would review budgets, assess the
superintendent's performance and monitor pupil performance. The
2004 vote on whether to restore the old system or continue with
the existing one would be canceled.
But Ms. Hardman and Ms. Waters said Monday said the 2004 vote
should be allowed to take place. Detroiters in her district want
the vote to decide the district's future, Ms. Hardman said.
"I think his intentions are good, but when you talk about
governance, the people of Detroit want to vote for their school
board," Ms. Hardman said of Mr. Kilpatrick's plan.
A major flaw in the proposal is the weakened school board, she
said.
Ms. Waters could not be reached for comment. But in a prepared
statement announcing a Tuesday news conference on the issue, she
also said the 2004 vote should proceed.
"Detroiters have the right to choose between the reform board
currently in place or return to a voter-elected school board
that would choose a superintendent to administer Detroit
schools," she said.
Ms. Hardman said there are other members of Detroit's
legislative delegation concerned about Mr. Kilpatrick's
proposal. She said she could not be certain of how many until
the delegation meets to discuss the issue prior to the
Legislature's December 2 return.
A spokesperson for Mr. Kilpatrick was unable to provide comment
late Monday.
Two bills that would move up the date of the November 2 election
are now pending before the House. Matt Resch, spokesperson for
House Speaker Rick Johnson (R-LeRoy), said no decision has been
made about when to proceed on the issue. But initial indications
are that either of those bills would be used as a vehicle for
Mr. Kilpatrick's proposal instead of having an entirely new bill
introduced, he said.
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