Education Advocates of West Michigan
The Education Advocates of West Michigan represent over 45 PK-12 school systems in Kent, Muskegon, and Ottawa counties and the three respective intermediate school districts. We advocate at the state and federal level urging lawmakers to craft policies and budgets that support local PK-12 schools.
The Education Advocates of West Michigan advocate for a student-centered budget and policy agenda. Our positions are based upon that foundational principle.
Current Policy Priorities
We are working to create schools where ALL students thrive, learn durable skills, and have opportunities to explore and practice these skills in dynamic settings. Students are fully engaged when they can apply what they are learning in authentic, multidisciplinary environments that serve as a springboard for learning and working as adults.
We must also create schools that attract and retain high-quality educators and staff members who joyfully live out their life’s calling to serve young people. State policies that provide competitive, living wages and benefits and value the perspectives and lived experiences of the adults working with young people on a daily basis.
Schools need sustainable, predictable, and student-centered funding. The School Aid Fund needs to be protected to support PK-12 education and must not be used to cover costs from the Michigan’s General Fund.
Schools must be accountable for the resources and students entrusted to their care. We advocate for accountability measures based upon student academic growth, engagement, and skill development.
State and Federal Agenda
State Agenda
Continue implementation of a student-centered funding formula as outlined by the School Finance Research Collaborative.
Why? A student-centered funding formula ensures schools receive the necessary resources to provide each student with the individualized support and resources they need to succeed. When each student has the necessary support they can fulfill their full potential.
What needs to be done?
- Increasing the foundation grant to $10,421
- Fully funding special education
- Additional 35% funding for at-risk students
- Increased support for English learner students
- Provide categorical support for transportation
- Provide additional support for Career Technical Education
- Create categorical equalization support for school facilities
Other considerations
For years our state has taken the approach to allocate funding outside of the student-centered funding formula in additional categoricals. This approach is cumbersome and reduces district flexibility to meet the needs of their students.
Enact student-centered policies that support the work of school districts serving the needs of students.
Why? State education policy serves an important role in setting expectations for our schools. Frequently in policy development, we see laws being too prescriptive. By streamlining laws, schools can focus on their primary goal of providing students with a high-quality education.
We would ask legislators to consider the opportunity cost of the passage of new laws. When our state passes laws that are too prescriptive or include additional mandates it diverts time and resources away from districts implementing their own unique initiatives to improve student achievement.
What needs to be done?
- Talk to teachers, school leaders, parents, and students prior to developing new laws.
- Provide flexibility in the Michigan Merit Curriculum
- Expand opportunities for Career Technical Education and work-study
- Continue efforts to develop our educator workforce
Federal Agenda
- Fully fund the Individual with Disabilities Education Act
- Provide additional assessment flexibility under ESSA
- Provide additional support for Career Technical Education
Education Advocates of West Michigan Vision and Mission
Vision
Develop a world-class workforce in West Michigan by ensuring students are college and career ready.
The Education Advocates of West Michigan believes that cooperation amongst the talent community is critical to meeting the needs of our communities and economy. The talent community is comprised of all actors and agents that provide or receive educational services.
Mission
Proactively advocate for student- centered, evidence-based policies that ensure students are college and career ready.
This work will be accomplished through collaboration with the talent community to meet the needs of our regional economy.
Key Strategic Operating Principles
- Legislative and community advocacy efforts are driven by a mutually beneficial need to develop a world-class work force in West Michigan.
- The work is pro-active in that it will intentionally engage the ideas and understanding of diverse stakeholders committed to the common goal of world-class talent development. The EAWM will work to author and influence legislative proposals.
- The work is student-centered and collaborative; sensitive to the rich educational diversity in the region.
Key Benchmarks
The EAWM will align its advocacy work with established benchmarks that ensure students are meeting key educational targets on their way to becoming college and career ready. The proposed benchmarks include:
- Kindergarten Readiness (metric: Michigan Model for School Readiness)
- 3rd Grade Reading Proficiency (metrics: MEAP and/or other national, state and local assessments)
- 8th Grade Math Scores (metrics: MEAP and/or other national, state and local assessments)
- College and Career Ready (metrics: ACT, NCRC, remedial coursework, median income, unemployment)
