Public Policy: Testimony on Senate Bills 473, 474, 475, and 476: Education Reform
Good afternoon. Mr. Chairman, members of the committee.
I am here today on behalf of the Michigan Catholic Conference, the public policy voice for the Catholic Church in Michigan.
Approximately 80% of Catholic school age children attend public schools in Michigan. As such, the Bishops of Michigan have a deep and abiding interest in the performance of all students and all schools.
SB 473
The Michigan Catholic Conference applauds the Senate Education Committee for having the courage to identify priority school districts in our state that need immediate assistance and for bringing to the table standards of accountability that have been sorely lacking in our traditional public education community. Moving beyond just the MEAP as an indicator of quality performance to include graduation rates, dropout rates, pupil attendance, teacher attendance and ACT scores is a positive direction.
We do want to voice our concern with one of the criterion put forth. The measurement based on free and reduced lunch eligibility seems somewhat arbitrary and may be harmful. Clearly it is an element that is not within the control of local school districts. In and of itself, eligibility for the free and reduced lunch program does not tell you anything about student performance. Allowing its use by a state evaluation team making assessments and recommendations for reform wrongly implies that students with lower socio-economic background are not able to succeed. We do not believe this was the intent of the Committee, however the potential result of using this measurement in effect stigmatizes the poor. A better measurement that would incorporate the poverty element that the Committee is seeking to include, would measure or assess the progress of students who are eligible for federal assistance through Title 1 or any other federal title program. These programs already have a built in poverty factor and the legislature would avoid simply connecting a student’s financial status with his or her school performance. That is not a valid measurement.
The Catholic Conference also objects to the creation of yet another bureaucratic arm of the state in the form of an “Educational Improvement Board” and subsequently appointed evaluation teams. Adding layers to system that is already burdened by layer upon layer of bureaucracy is simply not efficient and delays assistance to school districts that need immediate help.
Finally, we believe this bill does not go far enough to address the many other school districts that narrowly escape the criteria needed before evaluation and reform can take place. We know there are numerous other schools on the critical list by virtue of the accreditation standards established by the State Board. This bill does not address their needs and in essence leaves those children behind.
SB 474 and 475
We strongly oppose the creation of an individual and business tax credit for a qualified contribution to an eligible school district as defined by this package of bills. This tax policy tilts the playing field between non-public schools and public schools in favor of public schools by allowing a tax credit for donations. Many Catholic schools rely on individual and corporate donations without the benefit of the donor receiving a tax credit. Passage of these bills would incentivize giving to public schools, potentially to the detriment of non-public schools. This represents poor public policy with its attempts to pick winners and losers. It is a misuse of tax incentives to cure a perceived problem.
If the goal is to assist priority schools with infrastructure, technology and maintenance needs, a more reasonable and fair approach would be to repeal the sales and use tax on school repair and construction materials, a tax that currently burdens schools that are seeking to upgrade in these areas.
The Michigan Catholic Conference would also support an equitable tax policy that would allow parents, individuals and businesses to receive a tax credit for any educational contribution, whether public or private.
SB 476
The Michigan Catholic Conference supports the concept behind SB 476 that would allow the control of operations of a school district to be turned over to the Intermediate School Board. This reform is important and brings to the forefront the issue of local control and citizen involvement.
Thank you for your time today. I would be happy to answer any questions.
