Even if we don’t see a federal stimulus, the Michigan School Aid budget looked much better
than expected as passed by the House and Senate this week. Some highlights include:
• Return to Learn Clarifications:
• In addition to the student’s teacher, it expands to allow another district
employee who has responsibility for the student’s learning, grade
progression, or academic progress to participate in the 2 way interaction
for attendance purposes. It also allows the interaction to be initiated by
the teacher, school employee or student.
• MDE released guidance on 9/28 relative to 2 way interactions.
• It also clarifies that the opportunity for input on eCOL plans can occur
monthly rather than every 30 days as previously stated.
• Adds a requirement for districts to report on the amount and type of
training provided to teachers through PD focused on how to deliver
virtual content.
• Foundation Allowance:
• Reinstates the $175 cut schools endured last year bringing the minimum
foundation allowance back up to $8111 and target foundation to $8529.
• Provides for additional $65 per pupil one-time increase
(approximate). Based on a 50/50 blend of last year and this year’s count.
• Provides $66 million (prorated) for districts with increasing enrollment
whose membership blend in a non-pandemic year exceeds their current
membership blend calculation (75/25 “super blend” of last year and this
year)
• Virtual Learning Support Grants:
• $2 million for ISDs to address needs associated with virtual instruction
and distributed based on the number of economically disadvantaged
students.
• Use to support districts who began the year with virtual or hybrid
instruction.
• Can be used for meeting the unique needs of students with an IEP, to
address chronically absent students and to offer childcare solutions for
elementary age students.
• At-risk 31A:
• Maintains the FY 19-20 appropriation of $535,150,000.
• School Meal Debt Forgiveness:
• $1 million for payments to reimburse districts that have forgiven all
outstanding student meal debt. Applications due Dec. 1.
• School Mental Health 31N:
• Increases this appropriation by $5.6 million.
• GSRP:
• Maintains full FYI 19-20 appropriation.
• Requirement to charge tuition according to sliding scale for families with
income greater than 400% of FPG (was previously 250%).
• Waives required hours, days and weeks and instead requires pandemic
learning be provided either remotely or in person.
• Wavies household income eligibility thresholds, however still requires
priority enrollment for low income families. Waiving the income
requirement should allow all slots to be filled for this year.
• Literacy 35A:
• Revised from K-3 to PK-3.
• Maintains funding at $31.5 million for coaches.
• Increased literacy essential training from $1 million to $4 million with a set
aside of $500,000 for principal training.
• Orton-Gillingham
• $500,000 in grants for ISDs to purchase training in the one on one
tutoring program for students with dyslexia.
• MI Learning Channel:
• $2 million to NMU to support the MI Learning Channel.
• Provides instruction aligned with the MI standards and operated by DPTV
• Teacher Retention Payment:
• Optional grant funds
• $5 million in payments for first year teachers who complete their first year
of teaching in their district
• Provides $1000 per teacher in districts where at least 70% of students are
economically disadvantaged and $500 for all other teachers. Districts
must match $500.
• Kindergarten Readiness Assessment
• Eliminates the requirement to give the assessment this school year
• ISD General Operations Fund
• Maintains funding at the 19-20 rate of $69 million.
• Launch Michigan
• $100,000 for the newly created Connecting Information in Education
Committee. This committee will address scaling up best practices,
closing the education achievement gap, and preparing students for
success after high school.
• The budget did not include the classroom supply stipend as suggested in the
executive budget last spring.
• The Treasury Budget includes hazard pay for support staff, more details to come.
Full Conference
Summary: https://www.house.mi.gov/hfa/PDF/Summaries/19s0927h1cr1_education_omnibus_
bill.pdf
Budget Q and A from ESA clients this week:
• What is the definition of teacher and support staff relative to hazard pay? What
will our responsibility be?
• Districts will be required to submit a list of their eligible staff. A definition
of eligible staff will be coming in the near future. MSBO is working with
the Treasury to use data already submitted rather than give districts
another reporting requirement. Districts have no obligation to cut checks.
• Where are we at with teacher evaluation requirements for this year?
• There is a package of Senate bills introduced by Senator Polehanki that
have not made it to committee yet. That is the only pending legislation to
waive teacher evaluation. We are unsure if there will be an EO extending
the waiver, but it doesn’t seem likely.
• Do we have to pay contractors based on this new budget language? For
example, what about bus drivers in a district that is doing virtual instruction?
• The language says pay employees and contractors to the greatest extent
practicable during disruptions and closures. Some interpret it as “put
people to work creatively if you can”. It is possible to renegotiate
contracts but most suggest checking with legal counsel on this answer.
