MICHIGAN EDUCATION CORPS S.B. 759:
SUMMARY OF INTRODUCED BILL
IN COMMITTEE
Senate Bill 759 (as introduced 1-23-18)
CONTENT
The bill would add Section 1280g to the Revised School Code to state the intent of the Legislature to appropriate funding for the implementation and evaluation of the preschool reading corps, K3 reading corps, and math corps components of the Michigan Education Corps (MEC); and to prohibit a school district, intermediate school district, or public school academy from retaining the services of the MEC unless it met both of the following requirements:
-- Aligned the preschool reading corps, K3 reading corps, and math corps with State academic standards for reading and math.
-- Used Americorps members or equivalently qualified individuals trained to provide a data-based problem-solving model of literacy and math instruction for pupils in preschool (as part of the preschool reading corps), for pupils as grades K to 3 (as part of the K3 reading corps), and in grades 4 to 8 (as part of the math corps), who are not proficient, or are at risk of becoming not proficient, in reading and math.
The State School Aid Act first funded the MEC in fiscal year (FY) 2015-16, with an appropriation of $1.0 million General Fund/General Purpose (GF/GP). The $1.0 million GF/GP appropriation continued in FY 2016-17, and was increased to $2.5 million in FY 2017-18; the program is funded under Section 35a(6) of the Act (MCL 388.1635a(6)). Under that section, the MEC is required to provide a report on outcomes and performance measures, and the Department of Education is prohibited from reserving any portion of the funding to conduct an evaluation. In addition, for FY 2016-17 only, the MEC received $500,000 GF/GP in a supplemental for the Department of Health and Human Services budget.
According to the MEC, its total budget is just over $4.0 million in FY 2017-18; Table 1 provides the funding sources and amounts for FY 2017-18. The MEC has indicated that the Reading Corps was implemented for $1,200 per child.
Table 1
|
Michigan Education Corps FY 2017-18 Funding |
|
|
Funding Source |
Amount |
|
State School Aid (35a).............................................................................. |
$2,500,000 |
|
Corporation for National Community Service (CNCS; AmeriCorps)....... |
937,640 |
|
School Participation Fees & Other Grants................................................ |
616,000 |
|
Total.......................................................................................................... |
$4,053,640 |
Source: Michigan Education Corps
FISCAL IMPACT
Since the bill states the "intent" to appropriate funding (as opposed to a requirement to appropriate funding), there would be no State cost associated with the bill. Further, as mentioned above, the State School Aid Act already appropriates funding to the Michigan Education Corps, and the MEC also receives Federal funding and school participation fees and other grants. The three programs specified by the bill as the Legislature's intent to fund (preschool reading, K3 reading, and math corps) are being provided by the MEC using the funds received by the State, along with the Federal grants and school district fees.
In terms of a local fiscal impact, if the requirements of the bill led to a school district, ISD, or PSA being prohibited from using the MEC as a preferred provider of tutors, then there could be costs or savings related to a substitute provider of tutors. However, the impacts are indeterminate and would depend on whether the MEC would be able to meet the requirements of the bill, as well as the availability (or lack) of other providers.
Fiscal Analyst: Kathryn Summers
This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.