While the overall spending level of the House and Senate budgets appears to be the same, the documents represent radically different priorities for funding public schools. The Senate bill reflects the work done by members of both parties over the last few legislative sessions, but with certain tweaks which reflect the priorities of the Senate Democratic majority. The House bill, in contrast, is a radical departure from the shape education budget bills have had for over a decade and reflects - sometimes openly, sometimes obscurely - the priorities of the House GOP majority. Recent posts
23 Apr 2025
17 Apr 2025
18 Mar 2025
13 Jun 2022
From the archives
Scrooged: A Lansing Parable |
Dec 2015
As Michigan Parents for Schools begins its tenth year, and since we're in the holiday season, I...
A Parent Proposal to Assist Struggling Schools |
Dec 2013
Strategies to turn around troubled schools need to address specific local challenges and be owned...
"If not now, then when?" |
Jun 2020
I wrote the piece below, about the death of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo., almost six years
We had hoped that the redrawn legislative districts would encourage moderation and compromise on education spending and policy issues. Evidently, we will need to keep waiting. So far, this year’s budget process consists of more posturing than governing, and there is no question that the costs of division and gamesmanship will continue to mount. In one of their first acts upon retaking control of the state House of Representatives, Republican leaders revealed their intended governing style: confrontation.