The House Education Committee was busy this week, first holding a Tuesday hearing to vote out bills to make changes to the Michigan Merit Curriculum, and then holding another on Wednesday to debate performance pay for educators.

The House Education Committee could vote as soon as Wednesday, April 24 on legislation to overhaul the Michigan Merit Curriculum. MASSP testified this past Wednesday in opposition to the legislation, but it is imperative that members CONTACT THEIR LAWMAKERS (or contact them again if you have already sent an email or made a phone call) and urge a NO vote on HB 4465-66.

The House Education Committee heard its first round of testimony this week on a pair of bills that would make damaging changes to the Michigan Merit Curriculum (MMC). The committee heard from speakers on both sides of the issue and is expected to have at least 2 more weeks of hearings. It is crucial that MASSP members contact their lawmakers in support of the MMC and opposed to this legislation.

The Michigan Merit Curriculum is back in the spotlight as two bills—developed as a collaboration between the various sponsors of other MMC reform bills in an attempt to unify proponents of changes to the state's curriculum—were introduced on Thursday. Though the meeting did not focus on this legislation, the Senate Education Committee heard testimony Wednesday on the MMC.

The Michigan Council on Educator Effectiveness released its interim report this past week. Only a day later, the House Education Committee heard testimony on the history of the tenure reform bill that, among other things, created the Council from former House Education Committee Chair turned lobbyist Tim Melton.