Legislative Links
Michigan Legislature - www.michiganlegislature.org
Michigan House - http://house.michigan.gov
Michigan Senate - www.senate.state.mi.us

MACAE Legislative Priorities for 2008-09

Early Childhood
Alternative Education
Adult Education, Literacy & ESL
Enrichment, Recreation & Before/After School

MACAE 2008 Legislative Talking Points for Proposed Changes to Section 107 of the School Aid Act (PDF)

Senator Cropsey Amendment to Senate Bill No. 1107 (PDF)
SUMMARY: Designates $700,000 of K-12 Adult Ed Funds to Corrections for Adult Education

Map of State Capitol Area, Lansing, MI(PDF)

MACAE 2007 Platform

MACAE is a leadership organization made up of leaders in the following areas: Adult Education, Alternative Education, Recreation/Enrichment, Early Childhood and Literacy. Research has shown together each component strengthens the overall potential for breaking the cycle of poverty, illiteracy and crime.

MACAE believes in the concept that schools are the “hub” of the community and these five areas are an effective way to build safe, healthy, economically viable communities.

Adult Education

Maintain Section 107 of the School Aid Act with funds going directly to local school districts.

Ensure that all State of Michigan residents, regardless of age, have continued neighborhood access to high quality community education programs and services, including Adult Basic Education (ABE), English as a Second Language (ESL), High School Completion (HSC), and General Education Development (GED), literacy and family education, business and industry programs.

Re-establish the process by which Adult Education policies and procedures are managed by the Department of Education.

Support expanding demands for services including English as a Second Language and programs for the unemployed and underemployed.  (Section 107 funding has not increased, in total or by participant, since 1997).

Promote partnerships with Literacy Councils to help adults with basic skills. Support literacy efforts in communication, promotion and development of professional development needs. 

Alternative Education

Support increased At-Risk funding enabling districts to offer educational opportunities for all students.

Early Childhood

Support after-school programs for students in grades 1-8 through school-based community education programs.

Support school-based child care centers - currently a valuable means for parents to receive safe, educational child care services.  MACAE does not support the proposed new child care licensing changes that would force the implementation of an additional layer of administration.

Support funding for universal preschool programs.  

Recreation/Enrichment

Support local efforts to provide quality educational enrichment and recreational programs for residents of all ages in their district through Community Education.

Support local districts that deliver needed programs with an understanding that Community Education is most often best suited to provide these programs in a cost efficient manner to taxpayers.