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Leads on Legislative Issues

HMO Use Tax and its $200 million Impact on the School Aid Fund

The School Aid Fund could lose an additional $200 million dollars in revenue if the federal government does not allow

the state of Michigan to continue to collect a use tax on Medicaid Managed Care Organizations. This tax generates $600

million a year, two-thirds of which is distributed to the General Fund ($400 million) and one-third to the School Aid Fund

($200 million). The General Fund amount is used to provide matching funds for federal Medicaid dollars. The federal

government has indicated that the tax is not “broad based” enough to be used to draw down federal Medicaid dollars. It

has ordered the state to stop collecting the tax for that purpose by December 31, 2016.

A coalition of legislators, business organizations, healthcare providers and others are encouraging the Department of

Health and Human Services to challenge the federal government’s determination. They cite similar tax levies in

California and Pennsylvania as evidence of likely success if Michigan were to challenge the federal ruling. The $200

million dedicated to the school aid fund, roughly $150 per pupil, is at risk if the appeal is unsuccessful, as there is no

Our primary concern if this appeal isn’t successful is the potential loss of roughly $150 per pupil, as there is no guarantee

the replacement revenue source will provide any resources to the School Aid Fund.

M-STEP Results Released, Scores Indicate Tougher Standards – Common Core is Working

It’s no secret that Michigan has a long ways to go to become a top 10 performing state for education in the next 10

years. We started that journey by adopting stronger standards for English Language Arts and Mathematics several years

ago. This year was the first year that M-STEP assessment was given to students to cover those new standards. Many

people have been curious as to how our students performed on the new assessment. After a lengthy delay, Deputy

Superintendent Vanessa Kessler from the MDE provided an aggregate score update to the House Education Committee.

The aggregate proficiency table can be found below.

Mathematics scores in Grade 3 and 4 really stand out since their scores were significantly higher than the other grade

levels. Deputy Superintendent Keesler attributed those higher scores to the fact that the students in Grade 3 and 4 have

spent their entire education career under the tougher standards. The Department has established a goal that by 2025

85% of students will be on track for career and college-ready. You can view the short presentation by clicking here.

State Treasurer testifies that DPS will be Out of Cash by Summer

State Treasurer Nick Khouri and Detroit Public Schools Emergency Manager Darnell Earley provided testimony before

the House Appropriations School Aid Subcommittee this week and indicated that without state intervention the district

will be out of cash by this summer. The nearly two hour long hearing provided a detailed overview of the debt that has

accumulated.

Since 2004 DPS has ended each fiscal year with operating deficits around $70 million dollars. They have paid these

deficits off through short term borrowing and then later converting those loans into long-term bonds. The issue has

become so large that $1,100 per pupil is required to service the district’s operational. In addition, the student population

continues to decline by 10-12 percent each year. The financial situation can best be described by looking at the chart

below.

Legislators are digging deeper into the finances of DPS to get a better understanding of how and if the current crisis will

be solved through the Governor’s DPS legislative proposal. Many legislators feel that if the state picks up the $715

million tab the debt clock will just start over. Treasurer Khouri and Emergency Manager Earley contend that the district

has no chance at remaining solvent without the support. The House Fiscal Agency put together an analysis of the DPS

financial issue that can be seen here.

In the News

Why Michigan education officials aren't freaking out over dismal scores on new M-STEP test

Rothwell: Assessing Michigan’s talent future

1 in 4 Michigan students faces bullying in schools, report says

School starting before Labor Day? Bill to allow it raises alarms with Michigan tourism industry

Advocacy in Action

The Friends of Kent County Schools hosted a grassroots meeting where nearly 100 people attended to hear a legislative

update from their state legislators. In addition several law enforcement officials provided their perspective on Senate Bill

442. Legislators touched on evaluation, third grade reading, road funding and other legislative proposals. The law

enforcement officials shared their views on SB442 and SB561, legislation that would allow anyone with an “endorsed”

concealed pistol license to carry their weapons into public schools and all other places previously designated as gun-free

zones: day care centers, college dormitories, bars and taverns, sporting arenas, etc. All of the officers agreed the

current “open carry” quirk in the law is a mistake and most, with the exception of Lt. David Kok of the Kent County

Sheriff’s Office believed the concealed carry rights proposed in Senate Bills 442 and 561 are equally bad. Attendees were

encouraged to contact legislators to make their voice heard on these important matters.

Thanks for all you do!

Issue #222--October 30, 2015     Obama administration calls for reduced testing In a positive shift in testing philosophy, the Obama administration took partial responsibility for what it now calls an "overemphasis on standardized testing burdening classroom time" and said it is committed to helping find solutions to the problem.  The Department of Education (ED) released a Fact Sheet: Testing Action Planoutlining the administration's position and announcing several planned efforts to reduce testing, such as providing additional flexibility for innovative assessments in the waiver process.  The statement also called on Congress to take steps to reduce testing in any ESEA reauthorization bill, such as funding state and local assessment audits and requiring states to set caps on testing time.  The statement urged states to set a cap on testing so that no child spends more than 2 percent of class time sitting for standardized tests. Commenting on the announcement, NEA President Lily Eskelsen García said:  "We are optimistic that President Obama and Secretary Duncan have learned from the students, parents and educators who see first-hand that over testing acts as a barrier to student success and takes away time to learn.  But that's just the first lesson.  With a reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act on the horizon, we hope this decision leads the administration and all policy makers also to address the high-stakes that too often accompany these standardized tests." Study documents excessive, often useless testing in schools The Council of the Great City Schools released a major report detailing the enormous amount of test taking in schools today, using data from a survey of 66 large urban school districts.  The two- year study, Student Testing in America's Great City Schools: An Inventory and Preliminary Analysis, found  that between federally mandated standardized tests and those required by states and local districts, students take an average of 112.3 government mandated  tests between preK and grade 12.  By third grade, students spend over 20 hours per year sitting for such tests, with eighth graders subjected to the largest amount of testing.  These numbers do not include tests developed by teachers for classroom instruction purposes. In contrast, the report suggests many of these standardized exams do not measure student mastery of any specific content.  Some 39 percent of districts reported having to wait between two and four months before final state test results were available at the school level, thereby minimizing any possible use for instructional purposes. The study also examined the relationship between student scores on the National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP) in fourth and eighth grade and found no evidence that the amount of standardized testing has any beneficial effect on student performance on the NAEP. Commenting on the large amount of testing, Council of the Great City Schools Executive Director Michael Casserly said,  "There are many reasons educators have found themselves saddled with the unwieldy, incoherent, at times illogical testing system that we have today and it will take considerable effort to recreate something more intelligent." High school graduation rates up ED released new preliminary data showing that high school graduation rates are climbing across the country.  According to the figures based on a common method of measuring graduation rates, more than half of states experienced increased overall graduation rates and narrowed achievement gaps among low income, Black and Hispanic students, and students with disabilities.  ED said that Delaware, Alabama, Oregon, West Virginia, and Illinois saw the largest gains.  NEA has long advocated for strategies to increase graduation rates.  Many of NEA's  recommendations, including calculating graduation rates uniformly, prioritizing dropout prevention, and expanding students' educational options have been implemented in comprehensive efforts to increase graduation rates nationally. NAEP down The National Center for Education Statistics released the results of the 2015 math and reading scores from NAEP.  For the first time since 1990, fourth- and eighth-grade math scores were down from the previous test period (NAEP was last administered in 2013).  Eighth-grade reading scores were also down, and fourth-grade reading scores remained unchanged. NEA President Lily Eskelsen García responded to the results by stating that single tests scores cannot be used to measure a complex system, but like recent data on increased high school graduation rates, are pieces of a puzzle that provide information on how to ensure students succeed.  "The question is," said Eskelsen García, "how do we ensure every child has the opportunity to realize their full potential?  We can invest in early childhood education.  We can fully fund all schools.  We can make the teaching profession attractive and support teachers.  We can value the collaboration between parents, educators, administrators, communities and elected officials.  We can stop punishing schools, educators and students with high-stakes tests." ED approves 18 teacher equity plans ED approved 18 additional teacher equity plans from 17 states and the District of Columbia.  The states are: Alaska, Alabama, Arizona, California, Georgia, Kansas, Maryland, Michigan, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, and West Virginia.  ED asked all states for such plans in November 2014 and approved the first 16 plans last month.  The state plans and approval letters can be found on ED's resource page.  ED will make additional determinations on a rolling basis. White House to hold Next Gen High School Summit in November In an effort to highlight examples of  and resources for new models of high schools, the White House on October 21  announced that it will host a national convening of educators, philanthropists, and industry next month to spur a "re-thinking [of] the way that high school education is delivered in this country."  According to the White House, "next-gen schools are breaking out new approaches to: help their students excel by implementing personalized learning...rethinking the use of time during the school day...assessing learning in ways that let students demonstrate mastery, creativity, and critical thinking...[and] providing high-quality and continuous professional development to support educators."  The summit is scheduled for November 10. Take Action The leaders of the House and Senate education committees continue to negotiate a final bipartisan deal on an ESEA reauthorization bill.  Tell Congress to finally cross the finish line by passing a bill that ends the era of No Child Left Behind.

News Release Contact:    Martin Ackley, Director of Public and Governmental Affairs, (517) 241-4395                   Bill DiSessa, Spokesperson, (517) 335-6649  M-STEP RESULTS RESET THE ACADEMIC BAR OFHIGHER EXPECTATIONS FOR MICHIGAN STUDENTS October 27, 2015 LANSING – Michigan has reset the bar on learning with the release of the rigorous M-STEP statewide student assessment results taken last spring. “With this all-new and more rigorous test, we expected statewide student scores to be lower than what we’d seen with the old MEAP tests,” said State Superintendent Brian Whiston. “While the overall scores on this new test are low, they aren’t as low as we first thought they could be. “In order to prepare our students for the careers of the 21st Century and to vault Michigan to become a Top Ten education state in 10 years, we need high standards and rigorous assessments,” Whiston added. “This year’s results set the new baseline from which to build.” After 44 years of the Michigan Education Assessment Program (MEAP) test, 80 percent of Michigan students across the state sat down in front of computers to take the first-ever M-STEP. A paper and pencil option also was available for the handful of districts not yet prepared to test online. Whiston said the M-STEP measures the state’s standards that give students a deeper understanding to what they are learning. It requires students to move beyond bubble sheets and multiple choice questions to a more interactive, engaging assessment. Students also must demonstrate critical thinking, problem solving, and deeper knowledge through written responses. “Wherever we set the achievement bar, the students will jump over it,” Whiston said. “It’s about expectations. As a state, we need to raise the expectations.” The M-STEP results will be released in a staggered sequence, with the public release of statewide aggregates today. Schools and districts then will receive testing data through the MDE secure web site for schools’ access only. Later this year, school and district aggregate results will be available.     Michigan’s federal ESEA Flexibility waiver, approved by the U.S. Department of Education in August, provides that Michigan will not complete or issue public, high-stakes accountability in the form of top-to-bottom rankings and school report cards until Fall 2017. Additionally, MDE will provide schools with useful reports and data that can be used to guide and improve student instruction based upon the first year of implementation of the M-STEP later this year. MDE provided preliminary reports to schools within about two weeks of the close of each testing window. The 2016 M-STEP will include improvements announced this summer by the department, based upon feedback from school districts during the first administration of the test and survey responses from more than 26,000 students and 5,000 parents following the spring testing window. MDE heard that the testing time was an issue for schools in this first implementation and made some initial adjustments during that testing window. The department later announced that for Spring 2016, the testing time for the Michigan Merit Exam will be reduced by eight hours, and by two and a half hours for grades three, four, six, and seven. The test also will be administered in smaller portions over multiple days so students will not be required to complete the test all in one sitting. Whiston said that the department currently is conducting an assessment vision workgroup with education stakeholders to see how student assessments can be streamlined for spring 2017 and beyond.   # # #

Koch-funded university's support of AZ Gov Ducey's school funding plan draws fire AZ Gov Ducey owes his political career to the Koch Brothers. So it makes sense that a Koch-funded university "research" center would back Ducey's attempt to take funding away from future students. MA parents experience firsthand the negative impact of high-stakes testing "I am hoping they (parents) will experience what it feels like to be under pressure and answering questions that are, I feel as an educator, developmentally inappropriate questions that are meant to confuse students - not test their knowledge." - MA special education teacher Carrie Foley OH educators see progress in reforming charter schools and more work to be done "Now, with the new provisions, there's going to be better reporting in terms of student performance and where and how the money is being used." - OH educator Dan Greenberg on new charter school reforms Helping adjuncts with student debt llinois Senator Dick Durbin has a plan to reduce the debt burden on contingent faculty. Action of the Week Share your story. Tell us how high-stakes testing has negatively impacted your students Stay up to date through social media! Get real-time updates on all the latest political and education news by following us on Facebook,Twitter and Tumblr.      Help NEA Member Benefits Fight Student Hunger! Across the country, NEA members just like you are working to do their part to help fight the growing problem of hunger in the classroom. In support of your efforts, Bank of America will make a $1 contribution on your behalf, up to $50,000. Simply click through to Fight Student Hunger at NEAMB.com and login to make your click count! Proceeds will go to the Challenge to End Student Hunger. Click here to join NEA Member Benefits in the fight to end student hunger! Featured Media Share the Teacher Shortage graphic on Facebook Share on Twitter Share the Ben Carson graphic on Facebook Share on Twitter Share the Pre-K graphic on Facebook Share on Twitter