LANSING – State Representative Shanelle Jackson (D-Detroit) today praised the Michigan House of Representatives for passing key education budgets that invest money in early education programs, raise per-pupil funding for K-12 schools statewide and maintain the excellence of our state's community colleges and universities. The budgets were passed during a lengthy legislative session last week in which the Democratic Caucus asked Jackson to preside on the House Floor as Associate Speaker Pro Tem.
"I was honored by the opportunity to preside over the House Floor during a session in which so much was at stake," Jackson said. "Especially as a freshman legislator, it was a privilege to preside over a key session of the Michigan House of Representatives. I am deeply gratified that my Democratic colleagues demonstrated their trust in me by appointing me as the Associate Speaker Pro Tem. As the state continues to work through this unprecedented fiscal crisis, legislators have a challenging job in cutting out the fat from budgets while protecting vital services such as police protection – and I believe my Democratic House colleagues and I accomplished that with these education budgets."
Highlights from that session include:
- The School Aid Fund budget increased by 2.3 percent, or $300.2 million, compared with the 2006-07 budget year. The budget increases the per-pupil funding by $100 and invests more money in early education programs to prepare students for academic success from an early age.
- The higher education budget increases funding for state universities and colleges by
more than $3.5 million to all 15 universities to make up for unfunded shortfalls created by the federal Indian Tuition Waiver program and an addition of $3 million in federal grants to increase the number of low-income students prepared to enter post-secondary education.
"Ensuring equitable education funding for the residents of Detroit has always been a top priority of mine," Jackson said. "My commitment to education made my session presiding over the House Floor that much more fulfilling. I consider my work that night to be another part of my service to the citizens of Detroit."