Michigan Public Schools Finance Act 2013 (Update: Ingham ISD / Any time, any place, any way, any pace)

New post on Public Education Finance Act

Stanley Kogut: Student success is already a major focus by Admin LSJ.com Written by Stanley S. Kogut is Ingham Intermediate School District superintendent. There are many different perspectives on the return on investment for the dollars dedicated to public education. The proposed rewrite of the school aid act has many interesting concepts and the governor is touting the need for reforming how schools are funded. He also wants to see individualized learning plans for students, that fit their learning style. He wants students to have access to learning any time, any place, any way and at any pace. He has stated we need to do a better job of creating career-ready citizens. We in public education agree some changes need to be made. Further, we believe all students should have access to the same resources as those in the most affluent districts. We believe all students, in a rural, suburban or urban school should have access to a broad continuum of educational opportunities to fit all learning styles. The governor’s ideas are well established and continue to grow in the Ingham Intermediate School District (ISD) service area. All of the districts in Ingham ISD, through the Multi-tiered System of Support (MTSS) learning model and other initiatives, seek to develop plans that best meet the individual learning styles of students. Through the MTSS instructional model, which is currently focused in the areas of literacy, math and positive behavior supports, we continuously assess how students are doing. If one way of learning is not working, we change instruction to meet an individual student’s needs. We are beginning to see some impressive data on student achievement as a result of this work. Each district in Ingham provides online learning for students. Students can take one class to a full schedule online, depending on their needs. We have a myriad of career and technical programs and career preparation services offered in our local high schools and the Capital Area Career Center. We offer groundbreaking programs, one in health housed at Mc­Laren Greater Lansing and Sparrow Hospitals, and a Computer Science Academy at Michigan State University Federal Credit Union where students attend class in a business setting. Students also can attend The Early College at Lansing Community College, earn their high school diploma and up to 60 college credits, at no cost to parents. We have differentiated programs for at-risk students to help them be successful. We are providing opportunities any time, any place, any way and at any pace and look forward to expanding our reach. The boards of education, superintendents and educators in Ingham ISD started down this road years ago. We believe all students can learn and be successful. The school aid rewrite needs to dedicate resources to ensure a successful future for our students, our region, and our state. We trust that our legislators are taking the time to recognize what is working, where it is working and use these models to enhance opportunities for students statewide. We hope the school aid rewrite supports a focus on student achievement, doesn’t add financial complexity and gives flexibility to all schools and students.