school funding

By Jim Ballard
MASSP Executive Director

SB 1107, 2008-09 School Aid has passed the Senate and is now in discussion before the House Appropriations sub-committee for Education. I’d be surprised to see movement of the bill to the full Appropriations Committee until after the report to this committee by the legislative finance research staff as to how much money they think is in the state check book is completed. There are still some things kicking about.

The following were talking points at a meeting with Senators Jelinek and Switalski and Executive Director, Jim Ballard.
---

October 11, 2007

Senators Jelinek and Switalski:

Thank you for this opportunity to advise you on means to reduce costs of state sponsored assessments. The numbers used in these recommendations come from briefings I’ve attended and or news stories. I do not have the advantage of the Department briefing numbers you are using. I believe I’ll be close.

Assessments Being Reviewed

Michigan Merit Exam (MME) (Reported cost of $77 per assessment)

October 11th

This afternoon I met with Senators Jelinek and Switalski to discuss their eleven bill package (SB' 804 ....) to cut assessment costs. In the next three weeks the legislature still has to make significant cuts to meet their funding goals for the 07-08 fiscal year. Funding cuts around the MME and K-12 social studies assessments MAY be under consideration.