As a father of three girls, two of whom still attend public school, I know
firsthand how important it is to support our schools so we can give our
kids a quality education.
Proposal A, which Michigan voters approved in 1994, has not gone far
enough to provide funding equity among the schools in Michigan. We must
revisit this plan so that a student from northern Michigan or the U.P.
receives just as good of an education as one from downstate.
I am pleased that the Fiscal Year 2007 budget provided some additional
payments for schools that were at the minimum per-pupil foundation grant
level, which includes nearly all of the schools in the 107th District. The
budget also includes additional funds for schools with declining
enrollment, which will also provide more funds for many of our schools up
north.
I will continue to fight for equity in public school funding, with
particular support for the rural schools of northern Michigan and the
Eastern Upper Peninsula.
We must also work to ensure higher education is available to everyone. We
need a continued high level of support for K-12, our community colleges
and universities and trade schools. We have to train our young people and
re-train the people who have lost jobs, so they can prosper in today's
global marketplace.
Of course, a quality education starts early. I co-sponsored a plan that
would give all Michigan 4-year-olds access to high-quality early
education by 2010. Study after study shows that children who attend early
childhood education programs tend to do better throughout school, earn
more money as adults and help forge stronger communities. Higher
achievement will allow our kids to better compete for the jobs of the
future.
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