Looking at the needs of school districts in the COVID-19 pandemic
In tonight s 7 UpFront report we re taking a closer look at the needs of school districts in our state during the pandemic.
Posted at 6:20 PM, Feb 19, 2021
and last updated 2021-02-19 19:32:57-05
(WXYZ) â In tonight s 7 UpFront report we re taking a closer look at the needs of school districts in our state during the pandemic.
Part of Governor Whitmer s proposed 2022 budget includes $14.7 billion or the school aid fund budget, a $203 million base for per-pupil funding. That includes $14.1 million for economically disadvantaged students, special education, and kids in rural districts.
Supplemental appropriations for this year would include $125.7 million to help mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on students, $55 million for clean drinking water in facilities, and $125.7 million for the emergency education relief fund.
Education leaders say teacher shortages, learning loss among top issues at Michigan schools
Officials call on lawmakers to release funding
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DETROIT – On Tuesday, the K-12 Alliance of Michigan representing hundreds of thousands of students, teachers and schools held a roundtable to give a glimpse of issues facing students, teachers and learning.
One issue being the $1.6 billion federal allocation signed by then-President Donald Trump that has not yet shown in the state as well as the debate over who should control what in Lansing.
“We need the governor and Legislature to come together and commit to putting politics aside, getting the stimulus money out the door and getting a budget put in place by June 1 that put the needs of our students first,” said Robert McCann with K-12 Alliance of Michigan.
Michigan K-12 Leaders Look for More Time to Spend Federal Money
February 16, 2021
Michigan K-12 school leaders met virtually on Tuesday to discuss how they hope to use the $1.6 billion given by the federal government for education across the state.
They stressed the most was giving out the money as soon as possible so schools can have time to plan future projects and adapt to the everchanging environment created by COVID-19. One of their biggest concerns is addressing learning loss in students.
Superintendent of St. Clair County Regional Education Service Agencies, Dr. Kevin Miller said they need to distribute the money now so that schools can get an idea of what kind of programs they’ll be able to implement. “The hiring and training of tutors or additional learning coaches, plan for summer learning or extended year learning,” he said. “All of those conversations are happening right now so we need the funding to follow that.”
It s unacceptable : Michigan superintendents admonish legislature for holding education funds
By Jack Nissen
Michigan superintendents want Republican lawmakers to release education funds
As parents and districts are planning to get children back in the classroom next month, school leaders say the Republican leadership is stalling progress by not releasing federal funds. We re caught in the middle of this political struggle in Lansing. It s not a great place to be, said Kevin Miller, the Superintendent of St. Clair County Regional Educational Service Agency. .tying these dollars to health-related debates is unacceptable. It s unconscionable, said Peter Spadafore, the deputy executive director for external affairs at the state s association of superintendents and administrators.
President-elect Joe Biden is proposing $130 billion in federal aid for U.S. public K-12 schools, as part of an almost $2 trillion COVID relief stimulus package.
If the school funding is approved by the soon-to-be Democratic-controlled Congress, Michigan schools could receive an infusion of between $3 billion and $4 billion. That would provide a one-year, roughly 25-percent boost in the annual school aid fund of about $13.5 billion.
That amount of cash the equivalent of about $2,500 per public school student could be instrumental in efforts to help students who’ve struggled academically during the pandemic.
Just what those efforts would look like will vary by district, and depend on how money is distributed and limitations federal officials place on the spending. Some of it will address COVID safety, such as improved ventilation, more transportation to allow students to socially distance, or PPE equipment. But conversations with Michigan school leaders also reveal a growing