A key portion of Michigan Governor Rick Snyder’s special
message on education is picking up steam – the development of a draft rewrite
of the school aid finance act originally written in 1979. Attorney Richard
McLellan will be leading the project.
The highest priority of the project will be to create a
funding mechanism that relies on student proficiency, based on the concept of
funding following the student. The intention of the project is not to focus on
funding levels or sources. Further, the project will focus on public education
and not touch on the issues surrounding vouchers for parochial and private
schools.
Along with Mr. McLellan, Governor Snyder’s Strategy
Director, Bill Rustem, and Deputy Legislative Director, Darin Ackerman, will
work with chief drafter Peter Ruddell of Wiener Associates to have a draft
ready for late fall and the beginning of the 2013-2014 budget debate.