State Board to Develop Bi-Partisan Education Finance Reform Recommendation in 2010
Contact:
Martin Ackley, Director of Communications 517-241-4395
Agency:
Education
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January 7, 2010
LANSING - The State Board of Education will kick off at its Tuesday, January 12 meeting a process of crafting recommendations for long-term structural reforms to enable Michigan to support effective education systems.
"With looming budget shortfalls for next year, and the need for the state to resolve the education financing problems of Michigan, there is great urgency to develop significant and responsible long-term structural remedies," said State Board of Education President Kathleen N. Straus.
"Over the months ahead, the State Board plans to publically hear from experts with ideas for meaningful reform, and fulfill our Constitutional responsibility to provide leadership and general supervision over all public education, and advise the Legislature as to the financial requirements," she added.
At its January 12 meeting the SBE proposes to conduct a series of deliberative forums and policy review sessions in order to develop a set of bi-partisan recommendations to the Governor, state Legislature, and education stakeholders for education funding reform.
"We have seen too much partisanship in education as the Governor and Legislature have dealt with the budget crisis of the past several years," said Carolyn Curtin, Secretary of the State Board. "One way the State Board can make a significant contribution is by demonstrating how our educational challenges can be met in a bi-partisan manner."
State Superintendent Mike Flanagan is encouraged by this dialogue regarding school funding. "By bringing a broad cross-section of views and expertise into an open discussion, we are setting aside long-held divisions and obstacles to dynamic reforms," he said.
The January 12 meeting will build on State Board discussions begun last year with leading economists and policy analysts. At this meeting, the Board will hear from Jeffrey Guilfoyle, President, Citizens Research Council (CRC) of Michigan, regarding the current education budget situation, and CRC's research to inform policy.
The State Board also will hear recommendations for new approaches to state tax and revenues structures, and reforms in the organization and delivery of education services from:
- Charles L. Ballard, Professor, Department of Economics, Michigan State University
- Timothy J. Bartik, Senior Economist, W.E. Upjohn Institute
- Michael Van Beek, Director of Education Policy, Mackinac Center for Public Policy
"In this important election year for Michigan, we need to focus attention on the central issue of making Michigan citizens, young and old, the best-educated in the country," said John Austin, SBE Vice-President. "This year's election in Michigan has to be a referendum on whether and how we are going to deliver on that goal."
Tuesday's State Board meeting will begin at 9:30 a.m. in the State Board Room of the Hannah Building, 608 W. Allegan Street, Lansing.
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