BACKtoSCHOOL 2017 - Amazon Web Services · VISIT BACKtoSCHOOL 2017 Success in school starts with...
Transcript of BACKtoSCHOOL 2017 - Amazon Web Services · VISIT BACKtoSCHOOL 2017 Success in school starts with...
S T A T E S E N A T O R
JIM STAMASSENATE DISTRICT 36
TOLL FREE 855.347.8036
E-MAIL [email protected]
VISIT www.SenatorJimStamas.com
BACKtoSCHOOL 20
17
Success in school starts with reading.
I look forward to visiting elementary
classrooms during March is Reading
Month as a guest reader. It’s a great
way to talk with students about the
importance of reading.
DEAR NEIGHBOR:
The start of a new school year is an exciting time for students and
their families. There are old friends to meet, new friends to make and
much to learn and discover.
All of us — parents, teachers and neighbors — want our children to
achieve. By working together, we can make sure our schools are able
to provide students with the education and skills they need to succeed
in the 21st century economy.
Investing in education is one of my top priorities. I am pleased to send
along this Back to School Update with a special section on school
funding as well as other legislative news and helpful information.
Best wishes to all for a successful school year!
Sincerely,
BACKtoSCHOOLSTAMAS: LET’S INVEST IN OUR KIDSSchool budget makes the grade!
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For the seventh year in a row, the Legislature increased funding for K-12 education.
That’s a $13 billion state investment in the education of Michigan’s children!
Along with an increase in the foundation allowance, we boosted funding by
$120 million to help schools educate at-risk students and added money for early
literacy grants. We also provided $9.6 million in Career and Technical Education
equipment upgrades to better prepare students for in-demand jobs.
We allotted $1.3 billion to reduce schools’ retirement costs and pay down debt so
more dollars can be focused on the classroom.
The budget also increased funding for our public universities and community colleges.
IN ALL, MORE THAN 46 CENTS OF EVERY STATE TAX DOLLAR GOES TO EDUCATION!
STATE SENATOR JIM STAMAS • Toll Free 855.347.8036
Non
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K-12 EDUCATION FUNDINGSTATE FUNDING FROM STATE RESOURCES
$12.9 BFY ‘18
$12.3 BFY ‘17
$12.0 BFY ‘16
$11.9 BFY ‘15
$11.5 BFY ‘14
WALK THIS WAY!This year, National Walk to School Day will be celebrated on Oct. 4. More than 300
Michigan schools participated in the event in 2016.
Walking to school provides a great way to start the day, a chance to spend special time with
older siblings, parents or grandparents, a good way to practice safety, and best of all…it’s fun!
STAMAS SUPPORTS NEW LAW TO ENSURE STUDENTS LEARN CPR
High school is a time to help prepare students for the “real world.” Beginning this
school year, a new law makes it more likely that graduates enter the workforce or
attend college having learned a valuable lifesaving skill.
The law adds instruction in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and the use of
an automated external defibrillator (AED) as part of the state health education
standards for grades 7-12. Schools are encouraged to use local law enforcement
or emergency response personnel, or representatives of the Red Cross or the
American Heart Association to provide the training.
The use of CPR and AEDs increases the likelihood a person will survive a cardiac
arrest. If every high school student has this training before graduation, Michigan
will gain 100,000 new CPR-trained individuals each year!
E-Mail [email protected] • Visit www.SenatorJimStamas.com
SCHOOL BUS SAFETY TIPS FOR DRIVERS:• When overhead lights are FLASHING YELLOW, prepare to stop.
• When overhead lights are FLASHING RED, stop at least 20 feet
away, unless driving in the opposite direction on a divided highway.
• When HAZARD WARNING LIGHTS are flashing, proceed
with caution.
• Slow down in or near school and residential areas.
• Watch for children around parked cars and at bus stops and
crossings.
(Adapted from School Bus Safety, Michigan State Police)
NEW LAW AIMS TO HELP STUDENTS IMPROVE READING Reading skills are
critical to a child’s
academic and future
success.
I supported
legislation — now
law — to make sure
students receive
the early reading
intervention services
they need to help
them read at grade
level by the end of
third grade. Third grade is considered a pivotal time because it is
the last year students “learn to read” before they “read to learn.” If
reading skills are poor at this age, it becomes more and more difficult
for students to catch up.
Under the new law, schools are required to assess the reading
skills of K-3 students, provide individual reading improvement plans
and use early literacy coaches. The plan also emphasizes parental
involvement through “Read at Home” programs.
STAMAS BACKS STEM, IN-DEMAND JOBS BILLS FOR STUDENTSOur high school students need the right resources to help them make
the best decisions they can about their school and career plans.
I recently supported Senate bills that focus on education and
in-demand jobs. Many of Michigan’s high-skilled jobs are in the
science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields. Senate
Bill 344 would allow a student to receive a STEM endorsement as
an incentive to take more STEM classes. The endorsement would
highlight their accomplishments and give them a competitive
advantage in landing a high-paying job.
Senate Bill 343 would require schools to provide
students with the most recent available
analysis of in-demand jobs in their
local region. By providing high school
students with information about
current and growing careers in
their area, students could
take the appropriate
classes to develop the
skills needed in order to
qualify for these jobs.
RESOURCES FOR PARENTS
MESP www.misaves.com 1-877-861-MESP
Michigan Education Trust www.setwithmet.com 1-800-MET-4-KID
Michigan eLibrary www.mel.org
Michigan School Information www.mischooldata.org
OK2SAY (Student Safety Tip line) 855-565-2729 Text: 652729 (OK2SAY) www.michigan.gov/ok2say