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State Activities​

Educational Management Organization Bill Package, SB 943-944, 946-947

Dec 5, 2024, 10:30 by Jennifer Smith, Director of Government Relations
MEMO
To: Members of the Michigan Senate
From: Michigan Association of Superintendents and Administrators
Michigan Association of School Boards
Michigan Association of Intermediate School Administrators
Michigan Education Association
Michigan Alliance for Student Opportunity

Oakland Schools

Re: Educational Management Organization Bill Package, SB 943-944, 946-947
Date: December 4, 2024

As organizations representing public school educators, administrators and school boards across the state, we write today in strong support for the educational management organization transparency and accountability package – Senate Bills 943, 944, 946, and 947. This legislation, recently passed out of the Senate Education Committee, is a significant step toward creating a more balanced and accountable education system in Michigan by ensuring that education management organizations are held to the same financial standards as public schools. We urge the Senate to bring this bill package to the floor and pass these reforms.

This bill package will increase financial transparency and governance requirements for educational management organizations who work with charter schools, including: 

● Requiring detailed audits and disclosures of how public funds are spent.
● Establishing stronger oversight responsibilities for authorizing bodies to ensure compliance with management agreements.

● Preventing conflicts of interest in real estate transactions by prohibiting charter school boards from leasing or purchasing property from entities connected to their management organizations and enacting safeguards to ensure all agreements reflect fair market value.

We commend your ongoing dedication to advancing policies that prioritize transparency and accountability in the use of taxpayer dollars. This legislation is yet another step to helping ensure that public resources are used to provide students with the quality education they deserve.
We urge the Senate to fully support this bill package and ensure its swift passage. Thank you for your consideration and commitment to improving education for all Michigan students.

 

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