Let’s be clear. Michigan is in the midst of an educational crisis. Our educational outcomes, especially our reading scores, are cemented in the bottom-10 nationally. States like Mississippi are soaring past us. Seventy-five percent of 4th graders in our state cannot read proficiently. Think about that. Three out of every four kids. That’s thousands of children falling further and further behind. It’s thousands of children lacking the foundation they need for a successful future. It’s thousands of children being set up for failure by the adults responsible for their education. It’s past time those adults be held responsible. That includes the adults in this room and the adults at the Michigan Department of Education. I see no scenario in which anyone responsible for educational outcomes in this state should be receiving a pay raise right now. My amendment simply says no Department of Education administrator shall receive a compensation increase until our state’s reading scores have improved from the bottom-10 nationally. I ask for a “yes” vote on this amendment to bring some level of accountability to the bureaucrats responsible for this educational crisis.
The following bill was read a third time:
Senate Bill No. 164, entitled
A bill to make appropriations for the department of lifelong education, advancement, and potential for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2026; and to provide for the expenditure of the appropriations.
The question being on the passage of the bill,
Senator Nesbitt offered the following amendments:
1. Amend page 4, following line 1, by inserting:
“Dual enrollment payments 3,500,000”.
2. Amend page 4, line 10, by striking out “10,486,600” and inserting “13,986,600”, and adjusting the subtotals, totals, and section 201 accordingly.
The amendments were not adopted, a majority of the members serving not voting therefor.
The question being on the passage of the bill,
The bill was passed, a majority of the members serving voting therefor, as follows: