Dear Friends,
It’s an honor to serve and represent you in the Michigan Senate. These past few years have challenged us in inconceivable ways, but with support from our friends, families, and neighbors, we have been able to get through it together.
Thanks to support and engagement from people like you, we have been able to develop our schools, watch our children grow, and provide programs for parents. We’ve also secured record funding for the Great Start Readiness Program, affordable community college programs, roads, and so much more. Because of your dedication to our community and to our neighbors, there is no better place to live than West Michigan.
I’ve been privileged to represent our varied neighborhoods and secure necessary dollars for our district from Lansing. Every call, email, and letter you write to my office helps me better represent you, your family, and our community.
If you have questions, would like to share your ideas, or if you need help navigating our state government, you can contact my office by email at SenWBrinks@senate.michigan.gov, or by phone at (517) 373-1801, including a toll-free option at (855) DIST029 (855-347-8029).
It’s an honor to continue to serve you in the legislature as your state senator.
Warm regards,
Winnie Brinks
State Senator
29th District
Website: SenatorBrinks.com
Email: SenWBrinks@senate.michigan.gov
Toll-free: (855) DIST029 or (855) 347-8029
Phone: (517) 373-1801
Prepare for Future Education Costs
If you are facing college in the future for children or grandchildren, now is a great time to explore all the options the State of Michigan offers to help families save and prepare for education costs. Michigan offers two savings plans, the Michigan Education Trust (MET) and the Michigan Education Savings Program (MESP):
Michigan Education Trust
MET allows for the pre-purchase of tuition, based on today’s price, that is later paid out at the future cost when the child is ready to attend college. These funds can be used for tuition and mandatory fees. An MET contract offers state income tax deductions, can be transferred to family members, can be used at out-of-state schools as well as independent and trade schools, and offers a variety of savings and payment plans. To learn more, please visit SETwithMET.com.
Michigan Education Savings Program
Unlike MET, MESP is an investment-based savings plan, like a 401(k), that offers 22 different investment options and can be used for tuition, fees, books, and room and board. A families’ MESP can be transferred to another family member, offers state income tax deductions, can be used at any eligible educational institution, and an account can be opened with as little as $25. To learn more about MESP, please visit MIsaves.com.
In addition, Michigan strives to help families prepare and save with their Student Scholarships, Grants and Outreach Division and MiABLE 529(A) plans. Information on these programs can be found at Michigan.gov/mistudentaid.
Caring For MI Future
It can be difficult for parents to find affordable, high-quality childcare and educational options for their children, especially during the past few years. Fortunately, the Legislature and our state government have recognized this need and made it a priority to fund and expand access to childcare across Michigan.
Recently, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced the Caring for MI Future program to expand upon this commitment by providing the resources necessary to open 1,000 new childcare programs by the end of 2024.
The Caring for MI Future plan helps educational entrepreneurs identify and renovate facilities to care for kids, find startup funding, support for recruiting staff, and provide business development tools. The goal of the program is to expand access to quality, affordable childcare for Michigan families while relieving some of the financial barriers for entrepreneurs and for parents.
For additional details on when specific grants will be available to entrepreneurs, visit Michigan.gov/childcare.
Getting a Head Start IN EDUCATION
Childcare and early education programs are silent drivers of our economy. Access to safe, affordable childcare and preschool-level education programs give families peace of mind while also providing children with an opportunity to socialize and learn the fundamental building blocks of knowledge. The benefits that these programs provide are immense, and we have seen that especially throughout the pandemic.
Childcare is more than a necessity for families in a 21st-century economy — countless studies have shown that children who attend high quality, center-based childcare, pre-kindergarten, or preschool programs tend to perform better in elementary school. Researchers have also found these children have better pre-academic and language skills, perform better in math and reading in the early grades of elementary school, and have improved outcomes among children in families with low education or low incomes.
Great Start
Michigan’s Great Start Readiness Preschool Program (GSRP) provides state-funded preschool at no cost to the students’ families. The GSRP program currently provides preschool to Michigan’s 4-year-olds with factors that may place them at risk of educational failure. To find out more about GSRP in Kenty County, call (616) 447-2409 or visit KentISD.org.
Michigan RECONNECT
Last February, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced the Michigan Reconnect program to help Michiganders afford community college tuition or skilled trades training costs. The program is for people who are 25 years or older, have a high school degree, and live in Michigan.
In the first year of the program, nearly 93,000 Michiganders signed up for free community college or a skills degree. The program pays the remaining balance of in-district tuition and mandatory fees after other state and federal aid have been applied. Students who attend out-of- district community colleges can also receive a large tuition discount.
With bipartisan support in the Legislature, we are trying to ensure this program stays funded for years to come. If you are interested in learning more about the Michigan Reconnect program, visit Michigan.gov/reconnect.
Educational Priorities
As your state senator, I am committed to upholding an education budget that works to improve every student’s in-class experience, improves school infrastructure, and invests in our Kent area teachers.
Our education budget reflects our priorities. When our students succeed, Michigan succeeds. To that end, we are working to build up:
The highest per-student funding ever — without raising taxes.
We have secured the state’s largest-ever investment for students in every district. With this budget, we’ve expanded tutoring and personalized learning programs such as MI Kids Back on Track to help kids catch up or get ahead, along with money for new textbooks, extracurricular activities, and Advanced Placement and honors classes. We’ve also invested in mental health and school safety, with more schools now being able to provide on-campus mental health counseling from professionals, along with training for teachers and school resource officers to protect children.
A $1 billion investment in school infrastructure.
This year, we’ve made large investments into our schools’ infrastructure to improve facilities for kids to learn math, science, and technology. These investments will also be critical for improving air and water quality for our children, while also providing local, good-paying construction jobs as we rebuild our state.
Educator bonuses and programs to boost recruitment and retention.
I’m well aware of the challenges our educators are facing in and out of the classroom. Staff shortages, increased trauma, increased threats of violence, and unique learning circumstances have made this job harder than ever. To encourage our educators to stick with our kids and classrooms, we need to provide further education, bonuses, and stipends to teachers, and help districts hire and train 15,000 new educators.
Teacher Pipeline & Retention Package
This spring, my Senate Democratic colleagues and I introduced a Teacher Pipeline and Retention bill package with the goal of helping to attract, train, and retain quality teachers in Michigan. The legislation is designed to alleviate some of the financial and professional roadblocks teachers are facing, from university enrollment all the way to retirement.
SOME HIGHLIGHTS OF THE 11-BILL PACKAGE INCLUDE:
- Creating stipends and paying for childcare for student teachers who are fulfilling their final university teaching requirements in classrooms.
- Expanding support for new teachers by providing a cohort system and additional coaching during their first three years of service.
- Creating a loan-repayment program for recently certified college graduates who serve in classrooms.
- Creating a no-cost pathway for support staff members to become certified teachers.
- Fixing the collective bargaining process so teachers can negotiate wage and step increases.
Community Resources
Healthy Michigan
Did you know that healthy eating can help pave the way to academic success? Start the upcoming school year off right by planning fun, nutritious meals, and snacks full of calcium, iron, and vitamin C. You can find calcium in milk, yogurt, and leafy green vegetables. Dried fruits, chicken, and beans are great sources of iron, and oranges, broccoli, and strawberries are chock full of vitamin C. Learn more about healthy foods by visiting Michigan.gov/HealthyMichigan.
Women, Infants, and Children
Administered by the Michigan Department of Health & Human Services, Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) is a health and nutrition program that serves low- and moderate-income pregnant, breastfeeding, and postpartum women, infants, and children up to age 5 who are found to be at nutritional risk. To find out more about WIC in Kent County, call the Kent County Health Department at (616) 632-7200.
Double Up Food Bucks
For those who shop for groceries with a SNAP/ Michigan Bridge Card, they can double their benefits to buy fresh, Michigan-grown fruits and veggies using Double Up Food Bucks. The program is available at 260+ participating farmers’ markets and grocery stores across Michigan. And, with farmer’s market season in full swing, it’s a great time to use it!
When you use your SNAP/Michigan Bridge Card you can get a dollar-for-dollar match, up to $20 a day, so your family can get twice the fresh fruits and vegetables from local farmers. Learn how the program works and find a participating location near you at DoubleUpFoodBucks.org.
HELPFUL HOTLINES
