Income Tax Cut Defeated in House

Read Matt’s Capitol Corner

The big news in Lansing this week was the dramatic defeat of HB 4001 in the Michigan House of Representatives. HB 4001 originally would have completely eliminated the state’s personal income tax over a number of years, resulting in a loss of $9.75 billion to the General Fund.

Families Speak, Legislators Pledge Support

Michigan’s Children and the Michigan Association of Community and Adult Education brought together parents and other adult students, legislators and other key policymaking partners for constructive legislative solutions-oriented conversations to support family literacy, basic skill building and paths to secondary and post-secondary credentials through a FamilySpeak forum at the State Capitol on Wednesday, February 15, 2017.

Learn more about the speakers, the listeners and our policy recommendations here.

Check back next week after we hold another FamilySpeak to hear what caregivers in the child welfare system would recommend to help children, youth and families served there.

Comment on the Future of Michigan Education

Michigan’s Children has been involved with many other stakeholders in the Michigan Department of Education’s work to craft a new plan for the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA.) States submit plans to the U.S. Department of Education outlining how they are going to utilize federal funding to improve educational success in their state. The plan outlines how the Department plans to support schools that struggle; help struggling students by better addressing the needs of the whole child; hold schools accountable; assess student and educator success; and connect the dots between early childhood, K-12 and post-secondary.

Take a look and lend your comments here.

Check out how the plan might help or hinder Michigan’s Children’s recommendations to move Michigan’s education system into the top 10 here.

Michigan’s Children is Hiring

Have a passion for changing the odds for children, youth, and families?  Michigan’s Children is hiring a Policy and Outreach Associate and families in Michigan need strong advocates. Consider joining our team.

Take a look at the job description and let us know if you are interested, click here.