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Teacher Loan
Aid Bills Move
MIRS, November 2, 2005
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The House
Education and Career Preparation Committee reported out HB 4129
and HB 5210, which are designed to help teachers serving in
at-risk schools repay their student loans.
Under the legislation, teachers who serve in at-risk schools
would be awarded grants to help them repay outstanding balances.
"There is urgent need to recruit and retain teachers in at-risk
schools to ensure all Michigan children are receiving a quality
education," said Rep. Leslie MORTIMER (R-Horton), sponsor of HB
4129. "These bills help relieve some of the economic strain
facing many teachers who work in at-risk schools."
To be eligible under the plan teachers must meet the following
qualifications:
- They must be a legal resident of Michigan
- Cannot have a history of previously defaulting on, or
currently defaulting on any state loans
- Must have obtained and continued employment as a full-time
teacher in an at- risk school after the act's effective date
The grants would only be given for loans issued by the state. To
meet the requirements at-risk schools must have a student
population where at least 50 percent of the students meet income
eligibility criteria for free breakfast, lunch, or milk in the
state's proceeding fiscal year.
These regulations would complement federal loan forgiveness
programs, which operate under similar standards. As part of the
legislation, the Department of Education would be required to
notify each college or university that offers a teacher
preparation program of the availability of the teacher loan
forgiveness program, as well as the individual schools that
qualify for the program.
Rep. Glenn STEIL Jr. (R-Grand Rapids) sponsors HB 5210. The
bills now move to the Senate for consideration.
Teacher Merit Pay Coming To Michigan?
MIRS, November 2, 2005
With Colorado voters approving it by a wide 58 to 42 margin, new
teachers will get their pay based on performance. The question
is, will the issue now migrate to Michigan?
Sen. Wayne KUIPERS (R-Holland), chair of the Senate Education
Committee, tells MIRS, “I don't know if we are next…(but) it's
certainly an issue that we will want to explore in a little more
detail.”
But Kuipers' observation was not shared by Michigan Education
Association (MEA) head, Lu BATTAGLIERI.
Battaglieri was asked if the MEA would support the merit pay
concept here and his terse one word answer said it all, “No!”
Kuipers recalled that under former Gov. John ENGLER the unions
shot down an ill-fated effort to create teacher bonuses based on
performance.
Now, in the wake of the Colorado vote, where the teacher's
unions endorsed the proposal, the movement could reappear.
“The seed is being planted…I'm sure there's going to be some
talk of it here in the weeks to come,” said Jim BALLARD, head of
the Secondary School Principals Association.
He conceded that if there is such a debate, “it will be very
controversial” because it would give local principals the power
to set the salary of their faculty members.
This is precisely why fourth grade teacher Mary GALLAHUGH, who
was visiting the Capitol with her class on Wednesday, opposes
the suggestion.
"It is scary,” she said. “There's too much in-between there for
the person who is making the decision…I'm not for it.”
Ballard acknowledged her opinion but noted, “All principals are
good people…A principal would not do that, but there are some
people who wrongly feel that they might.”
Battaglieri said the proposal pits one teacher against another.
“Merit pay does not work…it is insulting," he added.
Kuipers argued, “You're rewarding teachers for excellence. It
works in the private sector. It works in business. It would work
in education if we could get the unions to embrace it.”
Apparently such an embrace from the MEA is not in the cards.
Committee Moves Passenger Limitation Bill
MIRS, November 1, 2005
Michigan teenage drivers must be wondering what they did to
deserve this. Last month the Michigan House voted to take cell
phones out of their hand, and today a House committee approved a
bill, HB 4756, to remove passengers from their cars.
HB 4756 would prohibit first-year drivers (a person issued a
level two graduated licensing status) from having more than one
passenger, other than immediate family members, in the car.
The legislation appears to be a reaction to some high-profile
crashes involving young drivers with multiple passengers in
their vehicles.
The House Transportation Committee sent the measure to the floor
and Rep. Ed GAFFNEY (R-Grosse Pointe Farms) said it will help
save lives. Gaffney claims that the more passengers in an
automobile with an inexperienced driver behind the wheel, the
greater the chances are of a distraction and a resulting
accident.
“It's the responsibility of the Legislature to protect lives,”
he argued.
If that was the case, Gaffney was asked, why not eliminate all
passengers?
He contends a “balance” does need to be struck, and could be
accomplished by allowing one passenger in the vehicle.
Rep. Gabe LELAND (D-Detroit), one of the youngest members of the
panel, briefly offered an amendment allowing teens to get a note
from their parents exempting them from the law.
Gaffney testified that he opposed the idea but agreed to “work”
with Leland on language that might be acceptable. Leland
withdrew the amendment.
After the vote, Gaffney explained that teens could forge the
notes, which is why he opposed the suggestion. Teen drivers
caught with more than one passenger, if this measure became law,
would face up to 90 days in jail.
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