Monday, April 30, 2012

Urgent from We Are the People Michigan


SB 619 up for a re-vote!

Friends:
Every parent knows the drill:  To raise healthy, active children, we need to limit the time our sons and daughters spend staring at computer, TV, and mobile device screens.
Incredibly, the Michigan legislature is moving in the opposite direction.  In a narrow 56-54 vote, our House of Representatives voted last week to place thousands of Michigan children into “cyber schools,” taking them out of real classrooms and draining as much as $210 million in desperately needed revenue from our public schools.
You can make a difference by contacting your state representative TODAY.
For-profit cyber schools have no accountability, no track record of success, and no plan to provide comprehensive academic services, transportation, art, music, athletics or special education.
What they do have is plan to milk the taxpayers:  Charge full price for each child enrolled in cyber school, drill them long-distance at a fraction of the cost of a real school… and pocket the difference.
Teachers, parents, student and school officials are united against this wrong-headed move.  So who’s for it -- besides the for-profit companies that will get top dollar for bottom-of-the-barrel services?
The Michigan House of Representatives will re-consider SB 619, the cyber schools bill, on Tuesday, May 1.  Because the original vote was so close, we’ve still got a chance to turn this around.  If just one legislator changes his or her vote, we can stop this taxpayer rip-off in its tracks.
Your state legislator could be the one who makes the difference.  Click here to find his or her phone and email, and please contact him or her right away.  
Urge your Representative to vote NO on SB 619.  Please make a call or send an email today -- this vote is scheduled for Tuesday afternoon, April 31.
Thanks for all you do,
Todd, Roger and the WATP team 


P.S. If your Representative is already voting the right way thank them and reach out and urge Representative Zorn to change his vote on SB 619.  Zorn was the tie breaking vote last time and we need to let him know he has a second chance on Tuesday to do the right thing.

Sunday, April 29, 2012

Cyber School Legislation and Center for Michigan Forum


From Your EGRPS PTA Legislative Committee:

Disappointing news from Lansing this week that the Cyber School Legislation has been passed by the slimmest of margins (2 votes).  We don't know all of the changes that were made to the cyber school bill once it left committee.  We will keep you informed of how this legislation diverts money away from our schools.

The good news in East Grand Rapids is that Center for Michigan is coming to town on Wednesday, May 9 at 6pm in the Community Center, 750 Lakeside Drive SE, EGR, MI 49506, to find out what we think about all of the legislative changes to education in Michigan during the last year.  Please check them out at http://www.thecenterformichigan.net/community-conversations/.  We have room for about 40 parents to give our opinions. Please rsvp to lucylafleur@sbcglobal.net if you can attend.  Thanks.

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Another Analysis of Cyber Schools Bill 619


Tina's Analysis of Cyber Schools bill 619

Lisa Lyons is the current representative for East Grand Rapids.  Next session, EGR will be represented by Peter MacGregor, assuming he gets reelected, so please consider contacting both of them.  Below are some talking points that you may wish to include in your letter or call.
Senate bill 619 would remove nearly all limits on the size of entirely online "cyber" charter schools in Michigan. Fully online K-12 charter schools have only been in operation here for a year and a half, and the jury is still out on their performance. The experience of other states, which have had online charters for longer, is not promising.
On top of that, these schools currently receive the same per-pupil funding as other, physical, public schools, even though their expenses are much lower. The major operators of these schools are private, for-profit, companies whose first priority is to their investors.  In fact, SB 619 is based on a model bill drafted by the lobbyist for K12, Inc., one of the major for-profit cyber school operators in the country and a current operator in Michigan.
Why should we turn our children into a business opportunity?
Current Michigan law calls for a progress report on the two experimental cyber schools at the end of this year. The report will analyze their performance and detail their true expenses. This approach is sensible and fiscally prudent. Why toss it all aside?
Proponents of the bill say that the bill has been modified by the House Education Committee to keep some limits on the number of online charter schools and how many students they can enroll. That is disingenuous.  The limit would eventually go up to 30 schools (from the current 2), and each one would be "limited" to about 33,000 students!
This is not a limit; it’s a $7 BILLION giveaway of taxpayer money to for-profit cyber “schools.”
Cyber school proponents argue that many families want access to these schools. Perhaps, but it can't be because of their track record, because they don't have one in Michigan and the stories from other states are hair-raising. How, precisely, do you do online kindergarten? How do you ensure kids are making progress? Since these cyber charters require "learning coaches" at home for students, who do most of the actual teaching, why does the online company pocket the entire state funding?
Sure, online learning is here to stay, and "blended" programs offered by our established local public schools can meet the needs of many students who would have difficulty taking traditional classes. Why pull resources away from our proven, and community-governed, local public schools just to pad the bottom line of the latest fad growth stock?

Kindergarten Start Date Legislation


Active Legislation Senate Bill 315 and House Bill 4513 —
Kindergarten Start Date 

The Michigan Legislature has introduced legislation that would change the eligibility age for starting kindergarten.  Currently a child in Michigan must be 5 years old by December 1st in order to begin kindergarten in the fall of that year.
Senate Bill 315 would move the eligibility date from December 1st to November 1st beginning in the 2012-2013 school year, requiring a child to be 5 by November 1st to start kindergarten.    Subsequently, in the 2013-2014 school year, a child would have to be 5 by October 1st; and, in the 2014-2015 school year, a child would have to be 5 by September 1st.  Senate Bill 316 addresses the appropriations side of the bill, adjusting the state funding to school districts to align with the new start date.
House Bill 4513 would move the eligibility date from December 1st to September 1st, requiring a child to be 5 years old by September 1st in order to start kindergarten that school year.  This bill permits the parent or guardian of a child who will turn 5 between September 2nd and December 1st to request a waiver to allow the child to enroll in school prior to his or her birthday.
  While Michigan PTA supports ensuring that every child is ready to learn when starting kindergarten, there are consequences to this legislation that we would like addressed.  There will be a reduction in revenue to school districts for one to three years, depending on the final legislation, and school districts would face challenges aligning staff to the smaller class sizes.  What has not been discussed is how will the state use the savings that will result in fewer kindergarteners?
Michigan PTA advocates for inclusion of the following provisions to the proposed legislation:
  • Phase-in over three years, as proposed in Senate Bill 315.  However, we would like to see the phase-in process begin in the 2013-2014 school year. 
  • Waiver request opportunity, with individual school districts determining the requirements for a waiver.
  • Apply the savings from implementation of this legislation to readiness programs for children impacted by the change in kindergarten start date.
Michigan PTA expects the legislature to consider the impact to our students when making changes to our public schools.  Michigan PTA supports improved educational outcomes for our students.  Having children prepared to learn when they start kindergarten enables students to meet rigorous educational standards.
For additional information, and to follow Michigan PTA activity on this and other legislation, visit http://www.michiganpta.org/advocacy.html .


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Michigan Parent Teacher Association 
1390 Eisenhower Place, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48108
Phone: 734-975-9500 - Fax: 734-677-2407
Web site: www.michiganpta.org

Reminder to contact legislators about HB 619

Reminder of the Legislative Alert that came out before Spring Break from Friends of Kent County Schools about HB 619, Cyber Schools


Please call your member of the Michigan House now and urge him/her to vote against this dangerous piece of legislation.  Even if you have already contacted them - please reach out one more time.  Click here for additional information about Senate Bill 619 and to be directed to talking points and contact information for your representative.

Surprise! Administrative Costs Higher for Charter Schools than Traditional Public Schools

Here is an analysis of charter schools spending up to $1000 more per child on administrative costs compared to public K-12 schools.  Public schools look like an efficient bargain.  Let's not bleed them dry before we learn to appreciate the resource we have!  Lucy

http://bridgemi.com/2012/04/report-charters-spend-less-in-classrooms/?utm_source=constant%2Bcontact&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=report%2Bcharters%2Bspend%2Bless%2Bin%2Bclassrooms#.T43UUKvY98E

Local Appointment to the Public Schools Employee Retirement Board

EGRPS' Kevin Phillips was appointed to the board overlooking public schools employees retirement.


http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2012/04/governor_appoints_east_grand_r.html

Monday, April 9, 2012

Michigan PTA Advocacy Update


Committee for Children’s Advocacy 5 Minute Legislative Update April 5, 2012
This update is for our units to use in their newsletters and to have available at their PTA meetings.  Please share with your members and community.
THIS MONTH:
  • Zero Tolerance for Unwarranted Expulsions
  • K-12 Funding
  • Kindergarten Start Date Legislation
Zero Tolerance for Unwarranted Expulsions – Strategies and Alternatives
Last month, Mark Fancher, an attorney for ACLU Michigan, addressed Advocacy Day attendees on Michigan ’s zero tolerance expulsion practices.  He emphasized that school administrators are often expelling students, instead of using alternative solutions when possible.
Children are entitled to due process – a hearing is required, and, with the exception of firearms offenses, school districts can use discretion NOT to expel a child.  Families frequently do not know how to avoid an expulsion or understand how to apply for reinstatement after being expelled.  Additionally, administrators may not be aware of  what options are available to them.
We must advocate for change.
Michigan expanded its zero tolerance policies well beyond firearm possession.  Mandatory expulsion in Michigan includes deadly weapons, dangerous weapons, and harmful objects.  This has resulted in punishment for possession of such items as butter knives, paper clips, and toy guns according to the Student Advocacy Center of Michigan.
School administrators must explore alternatives to suspensions and expulsions.  Restorative practices work to repair the problem rather than punish offenders and have been used with success in many school districts.  Lansing and Kalamazoo are examples of school districts in Michigan that have used these practices.
We also must advocate for quality and convenient alternative education for those students who are expelled.  Children must be given every opportunity to succeed in school and benefit from a quality education.
Michigan PTA advocates for every child to receive a quality education – currently those who are expelled have few options to continue their education and graduate from high school.
You can learn more about restorative practices through the International Institute for Restorative Practices (www.iirp.edu/).
What can you do?
  • Talk to your school district administrators and school board about implementing restorative practices.
  • Talk with your legislators regarding your concerns with our zero tolerance laws.
  • Help to make sure that every child is treated fairly and justly; work to ensure that all children receive a quality education.
Michigan PTA passed a resolution in 2010 addressing these concerns:
Resolved, that the Michigan PTSA proposes that Michigan ’s mandatory expulsion guidelines be in alignment with the Federal guidelines for “zero tolerance,” and be it further
Resolved, that the Michigan PTSA recommends data on suspended and expelled students be gathered, in order to best develop effective policies in regards to student discipline, and be it further
Resolved, that the Michigan PTSA recommends that no student be expelled without placement in an alternative education program, and that convenient and quality alternative education be provided by the State of Michigan, and be it further
Resolved, that the Michigan PTSA believes that students’ education should be disrupted as little as possible, and that local school districts should implement alternatives to expulsion, and that there be statewide procedures and policies for addressing disciplinary problems.
K-12 Funding
The Governor has proposed his budget for K-12 education, and it doesn’t include any increase to K-12 education.  The proposed budget maintains the $470 per pupil decrease that schools received this year.
Governor Snyder asks to maintain funding for early childhood education, funding for at-risk students, and funding programs to improve academic achievement and reduce drop-out rates.  However, there is a decrease in funding to lowering class sizes in high-poverty schools.
Michigan PTA supports equitable funding for all school districts. 
There are additional areas of concern which will negatively impact education funding:
  • An increase in mandatory contributions to the Michigan Public School Employees Retirement System will increase costs to local school districts. 
  • Michigan PTA supports all day kindergarten.  However, Governor Snyder’s budget does not provide additional funding for implementation.  School districts will incur increased costs switching from ½ day to full day kindergarten.  We urge the Governor and the Legislature to provide additional funding to support this great initiative.
ACTION REQUIRED:  Over the next two months, contact your state senator and state representative to share your concerns.  Governor Snyder’s proposed incentives are important, however, K-12 schools need to have funding restored.  You have surely noticed the impact the cuts to education have had in your child’s school; relay your experiences to your legislators.  It is imperative that our legislators know we expect them to ensure that every child in Michigan has the opportunity for a quality education.  Their futures, and ours, depend on it.
Kindergarten Start Date Legislation
Michigan PTA responded to bills introduced to change the eligibility date to enter kindergarten.
Senate Bill 315 would move the eligibility date from December 1st to November 1st beginning in the 2012-2013 school year, requiring a child to be 5 years old by November 1st to start kindergarten.  Subsequently, in the 2013-2014 school year, the child would have to be 5 years old by October 1st; and, in the 2014-2015 school year, a child would have to be 5 years old by September 1st.  Senate Bill 316 addresses the appropriations side of the bill, adjusting the state funding to school districts to align with the new start date.
House Bill 4513 would move the eligibility date from December 1st to September 1st, requiring a child to be 5 years old by September 1st in order to start kindergarten that school year.  This bill permits the parent or guardian of a child who will turn 5 between September 2nd and December 1st to request a waiver to allow the child to enroll in school prior to his or her birthday.
While Michigan PTA supports ensuring that every child is ready to learn when starting kindergarten, there are consequences to this legislation that we would like addressed.  There will be a reduction in revenue to school districts, depending on the final legislation, and school districts would face challenges aligning staff to the smaller classes as they move through grades K-12.  What has not been discussed is how will the state use the savings that will result in fewer students?
Michigan PTA advocates for inclusion of the following provisions to the proposed legislation:
  • Phase-in over three years, as proposed in Senate Bill 315.  However, we would like to see the phase-in process begin in the 2013-2014 school year.  The phase-in would minimize the impact on school districts as the start date changes.  Waiting until 2013-2014 allows families who will be impacted time to make plans for other childcare and preschool arrangements.
  • Waiver request opportunity, with individual school districts determining the requirements for a waiver.  School districts should determine their process by how they will assess readiness. 
  • Apply the savings from implementation of this legislation to readiness programs for children impacted by the change in kindergarten start date.  Michigan PTA advocates for early childhood education; this is a perfect opportunity to begin funding quality pre-kindergarten.
Michigan PTA expects the legislature to consider the impact to our students when making changes to our public schools.  Michigan PTA supports improved educational outcomes for our students.  Having children prepared to learn when they start kindergarten enables students to meet rigorous educational standards.
Action:  Share your concerns with your legislators regarding the proposed legislation.


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Michigan Parent Teacher Association
1390 Eisenhower Place
Ann Arbor, MI 48108 
www.michiganpta.org ♦ 734-975-9500

Budget Analysis by Michigan Parents for Schools

Here is more analysis about the proposed budget.  You can see that the budget sets in place a 20% decline in K12 funding which is a tax policy rather than a result of the economic downturn.  Lucy



http://www.miparentsforschools.org/node/162