Category: Uncategorized


This Week & Next (Feb 14, 2014)

Posted by:bdeshone Posted On:14 Feb 2014

Happy Valentines Day!!  The week kicked off on Monday with a comprehensive review of school funding by Mitch Bean, former director of the House Fiscal Agency, in which he makes the case that K-12 spending under Governor Snyder has gone up, gone


This Week & Next (Feb 7, 2014)

Posted by:bdeshone Posted On:7 Feb 2014

Governor Proposes FY ’15 Budget The biggest news this past week was Wednesday’s presentation by Governor Snyder for his proposed executive $52.1 billion state budget.  This the first step in the annual legislative budget process, which will likely conclude in June.


Governor Presents FY ’15 School Aid Budget

Posted by:bdeshone Posted On:5 Feb 2014

February 5, 2013 Earlier today Governor Snyder introduced his proposed $52.1 billion FY ’15 state budget, which is the starting point in the annual legislative process to determine overall state spending for the fiscal year that runs from October 1,


This Week & Next (Jan 31, 2014)

Posted by:bdeshone Posted On:31 Jan 2014

The Nerd vs. Chicken Little!! Kicking off this week it was great to see Governor Snyder address the orchestrated mis-information campaign regarding K-12 funding in the state. Here’s the AP article that made the rounds.  You would think something as


Campaign Year Fuzzy Math

Posted by:bdeshone Posted On:29 Jan 2014

You really don’t need to look at the calendar to know it’s a campaign year — now that accusations, counter accusations and tons of “fuzzy math” are being tossed around in Lansing and across the state. The Democratic Governors Association


This Week & Next (Jan 24, 2014)

Posted by:bdeshone Posted On:24 Jan 2014

On Wednesday, Jan 22 the House Education Committee took testimony on HB 5223 (O’Brien) and HB 53224 (Zemke), bills to create a Teacher & administrator evaluation process. We expect weeks of testimony on these bills, and we believe the Committee


Thoughts on MLK and Geoffrey Canada

Posted by:bdeshone Posted On:20 Jan 2014

Today we honor and celebrate the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., one of the most dynamic and effective leaders in the U.S. civil rights movement. One of Dr. King’s most repeated quote reminds us of the goal of education:


Happy Birthday, Michigan Charter Schools!!

Posted by:bdeshone Posted On:14 Jan 2014

Twenty years ago, today, Governor John Engler signed one of the most sweeping and comprehensive charter school laws in the country. Today, nearly 140,000 students in Michigan attend a charter public school, which is almost 9.0% of all K-12 students


Three Good Ed Reform Reads

Posted by:bdeshone Posted On:3 Jan 2014

Getting ready for the return of the Michigan Legislature next week are three fantastic reads on some key public policy issues currently facing the Great Lakes State.  Improving early literacy, expanding opportunities for choice in education and gearing up to


A New Year for Kids?

Posted by:bdeshone Posted On:1 Jan 2014

It’s the first day of 2014, and our highest priorities are to kick off the new year with a win by the Detroit Red Wings in the NHL Winter Classic being played in the Big House followed by a convincing