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Our Position and talking points for letter to Governor Granholm (updated 1/09/07)

General Position:

  • It is unacceptable, unfair, and worst of all discriminatory to provide all districts with the same increase given the large discrepancies in funding that exists today.  The legislature must act now to begin closing this gap.  It has gone on for too long.
     
  • While people can (and do) explain the reasons for the large discrepancies that exist, no one can justify them – discrimination in educational opportunity is never acceptable.

Talking Points for letter to Governor Granholm:

Use the following talking points to create your own unique letter – no need to state everything in this letter and feel free to add your own twist – but try to remain laser focused on the topic of “EQUITY”.  The purpose of this letter is to ask the Governor to preserve funding for the lowest funded districts in the current year and to add funding for the lowest funded districts next year.  Everyone needs to send a letter.  Address is as follows:

Governor Jennifer M. Granholm
P.O. Box 30013
Lansing, Michigan 48909

I recognize that the State of Michigan is currently facing a budget Crisis and that difficult decisions need to be made to solve this crisis.  In attempting to solve this problem, it is my belief that:

  • Equitable School funding is a high priority and we are appreciative of the $23 equity adjustment included in the 2007 State Aid Act.
  • If reductions to schools are necessary in the current year budget, the lowest funded districts should be held harmless from any reduction.  These Districts already receive the lowest amount of funding and should not be penalized further.
  • Prior reductions in school funding were disproportionately implemented against the lowest funded school systems.   Disproportionate funding itself is discriminatory; harming low funded districts further is unconscionable.
  • The $23 Equity adjustment must remain harmless from any reduction.
  • Funding reductions that equate the same amount per pupil for every district are inherently unfair and discriminatory.  Therefore, if you feel reductions “across the board” are necessary, they should be made on a percentage basis. 
  • In the past, the State has taken more from the lowest funded districts when it has prorated funding – it was unacceptable then and would be unacceptable this time.

In preparation of next year’s budget, the state needs to refocus on providing equal opportunity for all children.  Equal opportunity shows itself through equal funding.  The large funding gap that exists today is shameful and it is the state’s obligation to fix it.  Therefore, in preparing next year’s budget:

  • Make “equity” payments the State’s first priority.  A minimum of $100 per student Equity payment should be the highest priority until equitable funding is achieved.
  • Further ingrain this equity payment with an open acknowledgement of something that seems self evident – All children deserve equal educational opportunities, and that this goal is unattainable when gaps in funding approaching $1 billion state-wide still exist.