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MICHIGAN EDUCATION DIGEST
January 26, 2010

Contents of this issue:

  • Bill proposes school donation tax credit
  • Preschool reports at odds
  • Benton Harbor recall over privatization
  • Woodhaven caps insurance
  • Home-schoolers team up

BILL PROPOSES SCHOOL DONATION TAX CREDIT

LANSING, Mich. - A tax credit on donations to public and private school foundations won state Senate approval last week, according to the Michigan Information & Research Service.

Senate Bill 38, sponsored by Sen. John Pappageorge, R-Troy, passed on a 24-13 vote, MIRS reported. It would allow a tax credit of 50 percent of the total amount given to an education fund endowment or a specific project organized by an education foundation, according to MIRS. The maximum amount would be $50 for an individual or $100 for joint filers.

Sen. Gilda Jacobs, D-Huntington Woods, said the bill was "well- intentioned" but would cost the state $44 million in tax revenue and would not resolve the need for comprehensive funding reform, MIRS reported.

Sen. Mickey Switalski, D-Roseville, said the bill violates the Michigan Constitution by including private schools, according to MIRS, but Pappageorge said that, "The notion that this would somehow destroy the (school) system is just wrong." He said that the contributions would reduce the financial strain on schools, MIRS reported.

For a resident estate or trust, the credit could not exceed 5 percent of the taxpayer's tax liability for the tax year before any credits were claimed, or $2,500, whichever was less, MIRS reported.

SOURCE:
Michigan Information & Research Service, Inc., "Senate OKs School Donation Tax Break," Jan. 19, 2010 (Subscription required)

FURTHER READING:

Mackinac Center for Public Policy, "The Universal Tuition Tax Credit: A Proposal to Advance Parental Choice in Education," Nov. 13, 1997

Michigan Education Digest, "Slight increase in tuition tax credit programs," April 2, 2009

PRESCHOOL REPORTS AT ODDS

LANSING, Mich. - Two recent reports on preschool come to somewhat conflicting conclusions, according to media reports. A Michigan report says that preschool education saves the state about $1.15 billion annually due to children's social and academic gains, while the federal government says that its Head Start program does not lead to long-term academic gains.

A study by Minnesota-based Wilder Research, commissioned by the Michigan Early Childhood Investment Corp., concluded that Michigan children who attend preschool save taxpayer dollars because they are less likely to repeat grades, require extra academic help or enter the juvenile justice system as they get older, The Detroit News reported.

The study was based on a review of 60 other preschool education studies, The News reported. State School Superintendent Michael Flanagan said the findings show that Michigan should spend more on preschool, possibly by diverting funds from employee benefits or by making high school classes larger, The News reported.

In comparison, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services released a study showing that children who attended Head Start performed better academically than those who did not attend, but that the performance gap disappeared by the end of first grade, according to Education Week.

SOURCES:
The Detroit News, "Study: Preschool saves cash," Jan. 26, 2010

Education Week, "Head Start Pupils' Gains Found to Fade," Jan. 19, 2010 (Subscription required)

FURTHER READING:
Mackinac Center for Public Policy, "Kids in Head Start Still End Up Behind," Jan. 18, 2010

BENTON HARBOR RECALL OVER PRIVATIZATION

BENTON HARBOR, Mich. - A Feb. 23 recall election in Benton Harbor Area Schools is a referendum on the school board's decision to privatize busing, according to The (St. Joseph) Herald-Palladium. Three school board members who voted in favor of hiring First Student Inc. to take over transportation a year ago are named on the recall ballot.

Ronnie Brown, president of the local support staff union, filed the recall petition, the Herald-Palladium reported. He told the Herald-Palladium that the privatization was done in retaliation for the union's refusal to switch health insurance providers.

He said that about 50 people lost their jobs, though board President Dan McGinnis has said that most employees were subsequently hired by First Student, the report said.

Board members have said the privatization will save the district about $2.75 million over five years, according to The Herald- Palladium. The district is facing an $11 million overspending problem, the report said.

SOURCE:
The (St. Joseph) Herald-Palladium, "Payback time for BH school board?" Jan. 24, 2010

FURTHER READING:
Mackinac Center for Public Policy, "School Privatization Survey," Dec. 7, 2009

WOODHAVEN CAPS INSURANCE

WOODHAVEN, Mich. - The Woodhaven-Brownstown Board of Education has capped the amount the district will pay for teacher health insurance premiums at $13,000 annually, according to The (Southgate) News-Herald.

Any charge above that amount will be paid by individual teachers, according to The News-Herald. Previously, the district paid $15,235 annually per teacher for health care plans administered by the Michigan Education Special Services Association, an affiliate of the Michigan Education Association.

If the district continues to purchase Blue Cross Blue Shield insurance through MESSA, teachers will pay about $186 monthly as of Feb. 1, The News-Herald reported. If the teachers switch to an Aetna plan, they will pay nothing, since the total cost of that plan is within the cap. Two other employee groups are covered under Aetna plans, the report said.

The contract between the district and the Woodhaven-Brownstown Education Association's 310 members expired in 2007, and Superintendent Barbara Lott said the negotiations have reached impasse, according to The News-Herald.

The district anticipates taking in $2 million less in revenue this year and $4 million less next year due to declining enrollment and reduced per-pupil state funding, The News-Herald reported.

SOURCE:
The (Southgate) News-Herald, "Woodhaven: School district caps insurance coverage for teachers," Jan. 19, 2010

FURTHER READING:
Michigan Education Report, "Splitting the health insurance bill," Aug. 19, 2009

Mackinac Center for Public Policy, "Michigan School District Health Insurance"

HOME-SCHOOLERS TEAM UP

MIDLAND, Mich. - Home-school students in the Midland area are getting together for high school classes as a way to prepare for college, according to the Midland Daily News. Meanwhile, an Oregon group wants to open a charter school just for home- schoolers, according to a media report there.

In Midland, one weekly home-school program offers group instruction for high school students taught by parents with expertise in given subjects, the Daily News reported. Younger siblings meet in a separate group at the same time.

Nearby Delta College also hosts a home-school program for students from throughout the Saginaw region, also taught by volunteer parents, the Daily News reported.

In Medford, Ore., organizers have applied to open the Logos Charter School to serve home-school students, the (Medford) Mail Tribune reported. While most instruction would take place at home, students would meet weekly with a licensed teacher who would help plan lessons and monitor progress, the report said.

Students also could take group classes in music or foreign language, depending on demand.

Statistics show that the average composite ACT score among home- schooled students in 2009 was 22.5, compared to the national average of 21.1, the Daily News reported.

SOURCES:
Midland Daily News, "Home-schooled: Co-ops: Families join forces for their kids," Jan. 26, 2010

(Medford, Ore.) Mail Tribune, "Homeschool group seeks charter option," Jan. 21, 2010

FURTHER READING:
Michigan Education Report, "At Home at Delta College," Feb. 23, 2007

MICHIGAN EDUATION DIGEST is a service of Michigan Education Report (http://www.educationreport.org), an online newspaper published by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy (http://www.mackinac.org), a private, nonprofit, nonpartisan research and educational institute.

Contact Managing Editor Lorie Shane at
mailto:med@educationreport.org

To subscribe or unsubscribe, go to
http://www.educationreport.org/pubs/mer/listserver.aspx?Source=MED

Michigan Education Daily
Wed., September 1, 2010
"An aviation school in Michigan is one example of a new generation of public charter schools designed to serve niche audiences." >>
Tue., August 31, 2010
"A 10-year-old Windsor boy who completed part of his education in Michigan is being denied entry to public high school in Windsor even though he's completed the eighth-grade curriculum." >>
Mon., August 30, 2010
"Principal John Hoving is using Facebook as a way to promote Bay City All Saints Central School as well as to head off possible cyber bullying." >>
Sun., August 29, 2010
"Royal Oak Public Schools students will be featured in an Oct. 12 episode of MTV's "If You Really Knew Me," a cable television program that the producer describes as "students trying to be accepted for who they are."" >>
Sat., August 28, 2010
"Public schools in Michigan were offered an automatic "A" on part of their annual state report card this year, a one-time arrangement that may have spared some from being unaccredited." >>
Fri., August 27, 2010
"More than 1,000 teacher retirements will allow Detroit Public Schools to recall all teachers from layoff and hire up to 300 more to fill staffing gaps." >>
Thu., August 26, 2010
"Inland Lakes Schools is considering hiring a private firm to provide custodial services as a way to save money, but a union representative says that new federal funding makes such a move unnecessary." >>
User Comments
carol peterson
education is an all around development for a child
he should be mentally and physically strong


<a href="http://rescueyoursavings.com" rel="dofollow">Savings</a> >>
carol peterson
education is an all around development for a child
he should be mentally and physically strong >>
johnstfu
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Aarowman
Public servants like Presidents, Vice-Presidents, Senators, Congressmen, Judges, Secretaries of Various Departments and the like should be first to be compensated for performance.
The idea that the playing field for students is level everywhere is as Quixotic as thinking all politicians are honest and competent.
There are neighborhoods where only Portugese or gang sign language is spoken, where the parents both work two jobs to pay rent, where getting to school and back is more dangerous than Iraq and Afghanastan.
This Secretary of Education has to remove the silver spoon, roll up his sleeves and take his superior intellect attitude into the trenches and show the poor slobs that are taking their teachers jobs for granted how he would do it. Just because his mommy used to help out in Chicago doesn't give him the Congression Medal of Honor. Actually he's a stuffed shirt pretending to know it all.
How much do you want to bet that he wouldn't attempt entering these neighborhoods let alone these schools without security. >>
verdemont resident
This article is tucked away yet is profoundly correct. Parents are pseudo parenting little objects of consumption. Teens, professionals, working moms like the "idea" of a child but are not in for the long haul and everyone loses.

Schools are enabling parents to do precious little. The time parents spend with their children is the only thing that matters. Bussing needs to be cut, school breakfast, lunch, and afterschool care needs to be stopped. Parents will grow that bond by sacrificing the nails, hair, parties, drugs, quads, vacations, etc. and making a lunch for their child and arrangements to be home when the child is out of school. No one is that poor that they can't provide a boloney sandwich, a baggie of pretzels, an apple, 50 cents for a milk, and two cookies each day.

Please respond!

>>
JackI
Is it true that young ones today are losing interest on these subjects? Obviously, the White House is promoting programs that will help students on coping up with math and science subjects. But, The federal government thinks that the quality of math and science education can repair credit with the scientific community and improve US education with a few <a rev="vote for" title="U.S. Government Spends $250 Million on Science and Math" href="http://personalmoneystore.com/Payday-Loans/ ">payday loans</a> of sorts. In reality, it will take far longer to accomplish than they might think – US educators can't even get students to accept that "irregardless" isn't a word, and the difference between their, they're, and there – our students can't even learn their own language! It's a noble aim, to be sure, but throwing money at it may not work in the long run. >>
beggarsall
I am a teacher in the same county who is presently trying to quit the union. Like Caldwell, I strongly disagree with the MEA.

This article was timely.

Rob Olson
Pittsford Area Schools

>>
rickolson
I agree this is a change worth making. I describe some of the uneven effects of the idea on my blog at http://rickolson.blogspot.com/2009/08/statewide-health-insurance-plan-for.html which you may also wish to read.

The devil will be in the details, so this is one we will need to monitor closely.

Rick Olson from Saline, former school Business Manager >>
MichelleO

Nowadays, saving money is very crucial and properly investing the money can keep you and your family away from the effect of the financial crisis. The sad news is that a lot of the options for short term funding have been drying up. Short term funding is a necessary thing to have around, and going through traditional channels such as banks isn't an option for a lot of people anymore – basically it's only open to Ken Lewis. Installment loans are an option, but some people, including senior citizens, have been thinking about raiding their retirement fund. Getting into your pension retirement plan or 401(k) funds is the last thing you want to do if you don't qualify for any withdrawals yet. The penalties are substantial, and you'll end up needing installments loans to pay them if you use retirement funds for <a rev="vote for" title="Installment Loans Reliable Option As 401(k)s are Dwindling" href="http://personalmoneystore.com/moneyblog/2009/05/17/installment-loans-reliable-option-401ks-dwindling/">short term funding</a>.


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QUEEN_BEE_09
I AGREE >>