January 13, 2004
LANSING -- Michigan Department of Education budget officials revealed to the State Board of Education today that it does not send hundreds of millions of dollars back to the federal government, as reported by the U.S. Department of Education (USDOE). "We haven't been able to get an answer from the federal government yet as to how and why it used the figures it did, but it certainly doesn't reflect what we do here in Michigan," said Michigan Department of Education budget director Rick Floria.
Floria presented budget numbers to the State Board at its monthly meeting showing the department returns less than one percent of its over $1 billion annual federal funding allotment.
The department’s budget office said the federal statement stating Michigan has turned back nearly $225 million for the funding years 2000-02 includes funds the state still is allowed to allocate. Most of these federally-funded programs allow states to expend the grants over multiple years.
Using the programs the USDOE chose in its report, the state did its own analysis. Of those same programs, in which the funding window has now closed, Michiganreturned $13.4 million – or .78 percent.
“What this shows,” said State Board member Eileen Lappin Weiser, “is that we spend 99.22 percent of our federal dollars.”
In a review of those programs where the funding still is active, Michigan has not used $53 million – or 2.13 percent – of what has been allocated by the federal government to date. Many of those program dollars can be expended through 2005, Floria noted.
“We do everything we can to utilize every federal, state, and private dollar to invest in our schools, teachers, and children,” State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Watkins said. “Local school budgets are stretched and our local boards, superintendents, principals, teachers, and parents are looking for ways to maximize every penny to help our teachers teach and children learn.”
State budget officials explained that with the highly-restrictive and categorical nature of federal funds, it is likely that some go unused. Some local districts don’t spend all of their federal funds that subsequently get turned back, or some schools don’t apply for the funds because of the strict conditions placed on the money.
In other action, the Board unanimously approved a resolution retaining the Michigan Education Assessment Program (MEAP) test, in lieu of using a so-called “off-the-shelf” outside standardized test. The Michigan Legislature has been discussing proposals to amend state law and eliminate the MEAP test in favor of these national tests, specifically using the college ACT test instead of the high school MEAP test.
After reviewing independent reports by two nationally-renowned testing experts, the Board voiced support for keeping the MEAP testing program because it provides continuity and is aligned with Michiga curriculum standards. The Board's resolution will be forwarded to the legislature.
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