Tell lawmakers: Don't use $300 million in K-12 dollars on higher ed, community colleges

Since the recent announcement that the School Aid Fund now has $300 million more than anticipated, some lawmakers want to use the money to solve political problems.

The latest idea floating around Lansing is to take that $300 million, which would prevent further cuts to K-12 education next year, and use it instead to fund higher education and community colleges. While those are essential services that need funding, the money shouldn't come at the expense of K-12 students.

But the shell game doesn't end there! After moving this money to higher education and community colleges, some lawmakers are talking about taking other funds out of those budgets and moving them to pay for other political problems in the budget -- taking money out of education entirely.

Contact your state legislators today and urge them to reject this latest legislative shell game:

• School Aid dollars are sent to Lansing to provide an education for K-12 students -- the General Fund is where community college and higher education must get funds.

• Legislators need balanced solutions -- they've made reforms to school retirement and other areas; now it's time to look at reforming ineffective and costly government contracts and tax incentives.

• It's time to update our antiquated tax structure so we can provide adequate, equitable, stable funding for all of public education -- K-12, community colleges and higher education.

Act today! Contact your legislators and tell them to stop playing shell games with school funding!

June 10, 2010