- 2023-2024 Legislative Priorities Go Before Board of Directors
- School Aid Supplemental Passes the Senate
- State of the State is Jan. 25—Join Us for a Recap
2023-2024 Legislative Priorities Go Before MASB’s Board of Directors
The MASB Legislative Priority Setting Meetings were hosted this past fall over the course of two months in each of MASB’s regions. These meetings brought together board members, superintendents and MASB’s Government Relations staff to brainstorm on what the Association’s focus should be for the 2023-2024 legislative session.
The priorities created help guide GR staff as they advocate on our members’ behalf. Priorities in past years have included increased mental health supports in schools, implementing state programs to increase teacher recruitment and retention, and removing mandatory retention from the third grade reading law.
Following the regional meetings, the generated ideas were put into a survey for our members to pick their top three priorities in four issue areas: governance/infrastructure, finance, staffing and student supports/curriculum. The top votegetters in each area were then given to the Government Relations Committee to narrow down.
The Government Relations Committee voted on a list last month and it goes before the MASB Board of Directors today for final approval. Be sure to read next week’s DashBoard where the final priorities will be presented.
School Aid Supplemental Passes the Senate
Early Wednesday, the full Senate quickly passed supplemental budgets for the School Aid Fund and the General Fund by party-line votes. The bills make appropriations for last fiscal year and this one, adjusting amounts previously appropriated. Senate Bill 8, the School Aid Fund budget, includes language that would allow MPSERS supplemental payments to be made on behalf of all participating entities (including ISDs), not just local districts. The bill also adjusts amounts needed for special education reimbursements and school breakfast. Finally, it adds $27.9 million in federal dollars for the state to establish safe and healthy learning environments.
The passage of these two bills also moves forward closing the books with final numbers for the 2021-2022 fiscal year. This was not completed before the end of last session.
The bills are now under consideration by the House Appropriations Committee. We expect the House to act on them next week.
State of the State is Jan. 25—Join Us for a Recap
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer will deliver her annual State of the State Address on the evening of Jan. 25, 2023. Join MASB on Jan. 26 at noon for a Views From the Capitol webinar to recap the speech and what else to expect in education legislation this year.
This two-way webcast allows viewers to ask questions and get answers instantly. Grab your lunch and join us for an informative session! Register today to receive the link.