On Monday, July 16, 2012, MASA members received an email from the MASA Government Relations Department about a funding reform initiative being introduced by Governor Rick Snyder. Here is the text of that email:

You might be hearing from colleagues about a project being undertaken on behalf of Governor Rick Snyder by the Oxford Foundation to draft a new “Michigan Education Finance Act of 2013” to replace the annual amendment and appropriations process of the School Aid Act of 1979. Attached is a memorandum, authored by Richard McLellan for the Oxford Foundation, that describes the process underway.

The document outlines the Background, History and Shortcomings of the School Aid Act, Specific Elements, Process, Staffing and Transparency of the project to dramatically change school funding.  The proposed timeline calls for a new Michigan Education Finance Act of 2013 to replace the School Aid Act on October 1, 2013.

Some of the proposed elements of the new Education Finance Act raise serious concerns for MASA and its members; however MASA has been invited to take a “seat at the table”—an invitation we will accept and act on as early as this week.  We have also been asked to participate in subsequent “small group” sessions.  Be assured that we will proactively advocate for our members, while working to build a more fair and sustainable education funding system for Michigan’s youngest citizens. Moreover, MASA will actively seek input and involvement by MASA members in the field, both individually and through our Governance system. The August retreat of the MASA Council will focus exclusively on adapting our Lead Forward efforts to inform this work and shape our advocacy efforts. 

Please review the attached document and consider its implications for your district, and share with us your ideas and thoughts on how Michigan should finance public education for this and future generations. The staff at MAISA and MASA are already actively involved and will keep you informed as developments occur. We welcome your feedback and ideas, as well.

Read the Oxford Foundation memorandum

Read a related Detroit Free Press article (7.17.12)