Bill Text: MI SR0024 | 2021-2022 | 101st Legislature | Enrolled
Bill Title: A resolution to memorialize the Congress of the United States to change the formula for distributing coronavirus emergency relief funds for schools to allow states to distribute funds on a more equitable basis.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 13-0)
Status: (Passed) 2021-03-10 - Adopted [SR0024 Detail]
Download: Michigan-2021-SR0024-Enrolled.html
senate Resolution No.24
Senators Theis, Barrett, Victory, VanderWall, Bumstead, Bizon, Daley, Outman, LaSata, MacDonald, Zorn, Johnson and Schmidt offered the following resolution:
Whereas, The COVID-19 pandemic has had a dramatic impact on schools, students, and teachers across the country. Schools have needed to make significant investments to first ensure all students had equal access to remote learning and then to ensure schools could provide a safe learning environment for students returning to in-person learning; and
Whereas, Congress has approved emergency relief funding to assist schools in addressing impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic. Under the recent Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021, the state of Michigan will receive more than $1.65 billion. The state must distribute at least $1.49 billion of these funds to local schools, while Congress continues to debate providing even more emergency funding for schools; and
Whereas, The current federal formula for distributing emergency relief funding has led to large discrepancies in how much schools receive per pupil. The Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER II Fund), and the earlier ESSER I funding, must be allocated to schools based on the formula under Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965. Under this complicated formula based on the number of disadvantaged and low-income students and other factors, it is estimated that some school districts in Michigan could receive as little $51 per pupil while other districts could receive more than $16,481 per pupil in addition to their foundation allowance; and
Whereas, The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted school systems across the state with unexpected and impossible to plan for expenses. All school systems have needed to invest in technology and equipment to ensure Michigan's children could continue to learn remotely and allow schools to provide a safe environment for students and teachers in the classroom. Schools with more disadvantaged and low-income students have had additional challenges in creating remote and safe in-person learning environments. However, the Title I, Part A formula is an imperfect and inadequate solution that has led to an absurd inequity in the distribution of emergency relief funds; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate, That we memorialize the Congress of the United States to change the formula for distributing coronavirus emergency relief funds for schools to allow states to distribute funds on a more equitable basis; and be it further
Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and the Michigan congressional delegation.
