The motion prevailed.
Senator Albert’s statement is as follows:
As I have said before, I continue to believe there are potential constitutional issues with the functions that should be overseen by the elected State Board of Education, the State Superintendent, and the Michigan Department of Education. I continue to question whether this isn’t a backhanded way to strip power from the elected State Board of Education and give that power to handpicked bureaucrats. The solution to our shared frustration with MDE is not to create a shadow department. Beyond that, this budget has other problematic issues. It removes funding for dual enrollment opportunities for students attending nonpublic schools, cutting off support that facilitates their taking classes at postsecondary institutions at no cost. At the same time, it creates yet another government task force to study how to improve access to dual enrollment. Here’s one idea: let’s remove barriers and extra hurdles and give every student an equal opportunity to participate. The budget just props up another department that adds government bureaucracy without delivering results. I urge a “no” vote.
Senator Nesbitt asked and was granted unanimous consent to make a statement and moved that the statement be printed in the Journal.
The motion prevailed.
Senator Nesbitt’s statement is as follows:
My amendment would restore the current $3.5 million in funding for a program that enables nonpublic high school students to attend classes at postsecondary institutions for free. Without this amendment, nonpublic school students would not have the special funding set aside for them to participate in dual enrollment. This constitutes illegal discrimination solely based on the high school the student happens to attend. If we’re going to create pathways for high school students to find the success in the marketplace where they’re going to succeed the best, I ask for a “yes” vote on this amendment. I urge my colleagues to reject the unnecessary and burdensome discrimination of our private school students.
The following bill was read a third time:
Senate Bill No. 171, entitled
A bill to make appropriations for the department of agriculture and rural development 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,
The bill was passed, a majority of the members serving voting therefor, as follows: