Michigan Makes History as it Joins Nation’s Leaders in Investing More in Districts Facing Concentrated Poverty
New School Funding “Opportunity Index” Makes Michigan Among First Ten States in the U.S. for Innovation in Investing in Public School Districts Based on Poverty Level; New State Budget Also Makes Important Immediate Investments in Students Who Qualify for At-Risk Funding, English Learners and Students with Disabilities Statement by members of the Michigan Partnership for Equity and Opportunity coalition and The Education Trust-Midwest on Michigan School Aid Budget conference committee’s history-making vote for a new state school funding model and FY24 school budget: Today, for the first time in Michigan’s history, Michigan joins the nation’s first ten states [...]
Opinion | Michigan’s education proposals show progress; more is needed
For the first time in Michigan history, state Senate leaders are proposing to create a much fairer school funding formula that would rightfully consider the concentration of poverty in individual school districts across the state, from the Upper Peninsula to the Indiana border. If passed, the Senate proposal — combined with state House leaders’ proposal to make a significant investment in students who qualify for at-risk funding — would represent a historic moment of great progress for students in a state that has long had one of the most unfair and regressive school funding formulas in America. Yet as [...]
Michigan Senate Joins State House in Unveiling Historic Budget Proposals
For the first time in Michigan’s history, state Senate leaders are proposing to create a much fairer school funding formula while making significant investments in public education. The transformation would be significant, especially for students who have long been impacted by education inequities – children from low-income backgrounds, Black, Latino and Arab-American students, rural students, English Learners, students with disabilities and those living in concentrated poverty. Last week, the House and Senate began advancing their versions of the Fiscal Year ‘24 school aid budget. On Tuesday, the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on PreK-12 voted to approve Senate Bill 173 which would make major [...]
Equity-Centered Coalition calls on state to double funding in the FY’24 budget for students who qualify for “at-risk” funding and vastly increase funding for English Learners and students with disabilities to support their additional needs
(February 28, 2023) – Michigan should double the funding for students who qualify for at-risk funding in the state’s 2023-24 budget, while providing far greater funding for English Learners and students with disabilities, according to testimony given today before Michigan’s Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on PreK-12 by members of The Michigan Partnership for Equity and Opportunity (MPEO). The coalition’s proposal includes both short- and long-term fixes for Michigan’s school funding system, which vastly underfunds students with the greatest needs. For instance, research shows that the additional funding that Michigan provides for students from low-income backgrounds is near the bottom in the [...]
Prominent Civil Rights, Business and Education Policy Leaders Named to Lead Statewide Coalition Focused on Improving Education for Students who are the Most Underserved
NEWS RELEASE CONTACT: Jennifer Mrozowski, APR, 248.320.1037 jmrozowski@edtrustmidwest.org (February 8, 2023) -- A statewide coalition focused on advancing real opportunity and improving learning outcomes for all of Michigan’s students, especially students who are the most underserved, today named three key leaders in Michigan’s civil rights, business, philanthropic and education policy and advocacy sectors to lead the statewide group as it expands its collective advocacy efforts. Serving as the new co-chairs of the Michigan Partnership for Equity and Opportunity (MPEO) are Alice Thompson, chair of the Detroit Branch NAACP education committee, CEO of BFDI Educational Services, Inc., and former CEO [...]
Michigan Partnership for Equity and Opportunity Letter to Legislative Leadership 2022
Thank you for your leadership in our state at a crucial time for public education in Michigan. Like you, we care deeply about the future of the Great Lakes State and the future of its children. In the spirit of partnership, we would like to introduce ourselves – and our key policy proposals and guiding principles. The Michigan Partnership for Equity and Opportunity is a statewide coalition focused on advancing opportunity and improving learning outcomes for all of Michigan’s students, especially its most underserved students; including students of color, students living in poverty, English Learners, students with disabilities, and [...]
Equity-Centered Coalition of Civil Rights, Civic and Business Leaders Proposes a New School Funding Formula & Other Opportunity Strategies to Address Michigan’s Education Crisis
NEWS RELEASE CONTACT: Jennifer Mrozowski, APR, 248.320.1037 jmrozowski@edtrustmidwest.org (December 7, 2022) -- A statewide coalition focused on advancing real opportunity and improving learning outcomes for all of Michigan’s students, especially its most underserved students, today proposed an immediate solution-based agenda focused on closing Michigan’s troubling achievement and opportunity gaps through a revamped school funding formula and other equity-centered strategies. In a letter to state leaders, the Michigan Partnership for Equity and Opportunity (MPEO) -- whose leaders span Michigan’s diverse spectrum of civil rights, business, community-based non-profits, parent organizations and other sectors -- appealed to state leaders to address the [...]