🍎 Welcome back to school! Funding and policies to uplift Michigan students

Dear Neighbor,  

Labor Day has now come and gone, bringing with it the end of another beautiful summer and the start of a new school year! As students across Michigan settle into a new year of classes, I wish you and your family a great year full of learning, growth, and opportunities. As the father of two young boys, I know how important it is for our schools and teachers to have the resources needed to prepare our youngest Michiganders for all that lies ahead of them. Their success is our success.   

For the past two years, I have been working hard in the Senate and as a member of the appropriations subcommittee for crafting the Pre-K-12 Education Budget to pass policies and secure funding to uplift students and educators in every corner of our state. From securing free school meals for all public-school students and increasing literacy supports to providing tax relief for educators — we’ve made great strides towards achieving this goal. I invite you to read more about this progress in our newsletter below. Also included below are some helpful resources to help your family start the school year on a high note.  

As always, I’d love to hear your thoughts on how we can improve our education system and create classrooms where students feel empowered to learn. Please feel free to reach out to my office to share your perspective on this or any issue — we are here to serve you. You can reach my office by calling (517) 373-7315 or emailing SenKHertel@senate.michigan.gov. I hope to hear from you soon! 

Sincerely, 

Kevin Hertel
State Senator
District 12

Included in This Newsletter 

• Policies to Uplift Michigan Students and Teachers 
• Investing in the Future of Our State 
• Resources to Start the School Year on a High Note 
• Upcoming Events 
• Contact Us 

 Policies to Uplift Michigan Students and Teachers 

Promoting Literacy and Identifying Students with Dyslexia 

Dyslexia is the most common learning disability, affecting up to one in five kids in every classroom. It can have profound effects on literacy and overall educational achievement. However, with early identification and evidence-based reading intervention, students with characteristics of dyslexia can become strong readers. That’s why I co-sponsored legislation to ensure teachers have the tools they need to help students with dyslexia and other reading difficulties achieve literacy.   

The Senate acted in overwhelming bipartisan fashion to pass these bills in March. The bills have since been referred to the House Committee on Education where they currently await further deliberation. 

Providing Economic Relief for Michigan Teachers 

Teachers provide so much to our state as their work lays the foundation for new generations of leaders, innovators, and problem-solvers who will shape Michigan’s future. While this work is vital to the future of our state, our educators have been underpaid and undervalued for too long. In recent years, we’ve seen teacher salaries in Michigan slip below the national average, making it difficult for many to put food on the table or fill up their gas tank.  

Currently, some teachers contribute 3% of their income to a health care fund for retirement, known as OPEB. This fund, supported by both the state of Michigan and local school districts, ensures lifetime medical, dental, and vision coverage for teachers. With OPEB now 140% funded and boasting a surplus of $670 million, we have a unique opportunity to deliver significant cost savings to our educators.  

As a result, I introduced Senate Bill 911 which would eliminate the 3% health care contribution requirement for school employees, allowing them to keep more of their hard-earned money. This legislation would also help us attract new folks to the profession, a critical need as our state faces unprecedented challenges in recruiting and retaining qualified educators. 

Filter First Legislation to Ensure Clean Drinking Water at Schools 

No parent should have to worry about their child being exposed to lead poisoning at school or daycare, just as no student should have to worry about the quality of water coming out of their drinking fountain. As our state’s infrastructure ages and becomes unreliable, so does water quality.  

To ensure our students and teachers have access to clean drinking water at school, I supported Senate Bills 88 and 89, which require all Michigan schools to have approved water filters on all consumptive fixtures for students’ drinking water by the end of the 2025-2026 school year. Signed into law in 2023, this legislation also requires all Michigan schools to implement a Drinking Water Management Plan, including installing filtered bottle-filling stations or filtered faucets on outlets designated for drinking water and testing the filtered water to ensure filters are installed and operating properly.  

Once implemented, these bills will help prevent health risks and protect our kids from lead in drinking water at schools. 

Ensuring Schools Are Prepared to Respond to Cardiac Emergencies 

Sudden cardiac arrest is the leading cause of death in young athletes, and in those instances, every second counts. Growing up, we lost a tennis player at my high school from cardiac arrest, and I saw the impact that had on his family, fellow classmates and the entire community.  

Having an AED accessible can ultimately mean the difference between life and tragedy. That’s why we passed legislation to ensure every Michigan school has an AED and trained personnel ready to quickly respond to medical emergencies on and off the field.  

House Bills 5527 and 5528, which garnered bipartisan support in the Senate Health Policy Committee and the full Legislature, were signed into law by Gov. Whitmer in April this year. Having a readily available AED and staff who can properly utilize the device will help ensure our educational institutions are equipped to safeguard the health of our students.  

Read more about this legislation here or watch Local 4’s coverage here. 

Investing in the Future of Our State 

Access to a quality education can be a gamechanger, helping Michiganders of all ages unlock opportunities, while positioning our state for success. Under previous leadership, Michigan schools faced years of disinvestment that has had long-term, negative impacts on our kids’ learning and our state’s educational infrastructure.  

Once in the majority, my colleagues and I worked to turn the tides, beginning with our 2024 state budget, which included significant resources to support students throughout their academic careers. This year, we continued this work to further build up Michigan students by:  

• Expanding free preschool for four-year-olds, increasing the eligibility threshold for the Great Start Readiness Program to 400% of the federal poverty level — under $120,000 annually for a family of four. 
• Securing nearly $600 million for classrooms, an average equivalent of approximately a $400 per-student increase statewide.  
• Continuing free breakfast and lunch for all public-school students to ensure no kid goes hungry and can better focus while in the classroom, while also saving Michigan families approximately $850 a year on food costs. 
• Providing additional funding and resources for the students and schools that need it most — small and isolated districts, at-risk students, career, and technical education, and more.   
• Increasing funding to support the Michigan Achievement Scholarship and create the Community College Guarantee to lower or eliminate the cost of higher education. 
• Continuing support for Michigan Reconnect scholarships, enabling workers to go back to school to pursue a degree or a skilled trade certification.  

We were also able to secure $2 million for the Harper Woods School District here in District 12 to construct a Daily Life Skills Training Center that will provide students with individualized skill development training and prepare them to lead independent lives.  

Resources to Start the School Year on a High Note 

Fill Out Your FAFSA to See if You Qualify for Financial Aid 

Don’t let financial barriers hold you back from obtaining a college degree — a majority of Michigan’s high school seniors qualify for financial aid from the state of Michigan, potentially saving you thousands of dollars on tuition. You might be eligible for more aid than you think, so don’t wait to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)!  

Filling out your FAFSA is free and typically takes less than an hour. You can get started at FAFSA.com. For additional information on other financial aid opportunities available to Michiganders, you can visit Michigan.gov/MIStudentAid. 

Michigan Achievement Scholarship Unlocks Opportunities in Higher Education for Michiganders  

Colleges and universities play a vital role in shaping the future of our state. Recognizing this, my colleagues and I worked to expand the Michigan Achievement Scholarship (MAS) program to create the “Community College Guarantee.” This scholarship is available to most graduating high school seniors and incoming college freshmen this year.     

Under the Michigan Achievement Scholarship, students can receive:  

• Up to $2,750 annually if they enroll in a Michigan community college, for up to three years.  
• Up to $4,000 annually if they enroll in a Michigan private college or university, for up to five years.  
• Up to $5,500 annually if they enroll in a Michigan public university or a baccalaureate degree program at a Michigan community college, for up to five years.    

If you’re interested in learning more about how you or your student can take advantage of the scholarship, the Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP) is hosting a series of informational webinars that will give an overview of the scholarship, eligibility requirements, award amounts, and more. You can find a date that works with your schedule and register here. 

Foster Your Child’s Love of Reading 

Our children’s success in school and in life heavily depends on their reading abilities. It’s on all of us to foster their love of books so we can set them up for a lifetime of success, regardless of what they choose to pursue. Here’s how you can help a young reader:   

Make Reading Part of Their Daily Routine | Find time in the daily schedule for children to read. It doesn’t matter whether it’s before bed, before they eat dessert or after a meal. Sticking to a regular schedule will keep reading consistent, and it will naturally make reading a part of their daily habit that they can enjoy, instead of looking at it as a chore.   

Be the Example | Our children learn from us. When they see us reading magazines, newspapers or books, it shows them that reading is important. And, when they see that reading is important to their parents, it encourages them to read as well.   

Listen to Your Child Read | Have your child read aloud to you and listen to them. If they struggle with pronouncing words, or if their reading is choppy and they make mistakes, have them read it again while you help them. This will improve their reading skills and show your children you care about their reading.   

Talk to Your Children | When your child finishes a book, talk to them about it. Ask them what their favorite part was, who their favorite character was, and ask them about what happened in the story. It’s a great way to be involved in their reading, and it will enhance their reading comprehension.   

Reading Should Be a Choice | It’s good for parents to make suggestions, but you should never force your child to read a certain book. There’s no quicker way to make them uninterested and unenthused about reading than by telling them what to read. So, when you go to a library or bookstore with your child, let them explore and pick out books that they like. It will keep them interested and, most importantly, keep them reading.   

Find Reading Programs | Many libraries and schools offer reading programs during the summer that will keep your children in the habit of reading every day. They also have the benefit of having your children be around other children their own age who are usually reading the same book, and that will help them to talk about what they are reading with their peers. 

Safe Driving Tips as the School Year Picks Up 

With the new school year underway, we’re sharing the road with school buses again. Make sure to remember, yellow lights on school buses activate when the bus is preparing to stop. Red lights and the long stop arm are activated when the bus is completely stopped and accepting or discharging passengers.  

Here’s a reminder on what to do when a school bus stops on different road types: 

• Two-lane roadway: When a school bus stops for passengers, all traffic from both directions must stop. 
• Multi-lane roadway with a center turning lane: When a school bus stops for passengers, all traffic from both directions must stop. 
• Four-lane roadway without a median separation: When a school bus stops for passengers, all traffic from both directions must stop. 
• Divided highway of four lanes or more with a median separation: When a school bus stops for passengers, only traffic following the bus must stop. 

Upcoming Events 

It is one of my top goals as your State Senator to have myself and my office be as accessible to you as possible. To share your thoughts on legislation or seek assistance with an issue, please join me at one of our upcoming district events: 

Constituent Services on the Road 

Please join State Rep. Denise Mentzer, Gov. Whitmer’s team, my office, and other state and local agencies on Friday, September 6 at the Cairns Community Center for a constituent services fair. If you need assistance or have questions you’d like answered, this event is meant for you!  

Agencies who will be in attendance at this event include: 

• Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) 
• Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) 
• Representatives from the Secretary of State 
• Representatives from the Attorney General’s Office 
• MyCare Health Center 
• Macomb Community Action 
• Mount Clemens Library Book Mobile  

WHEN: Friday, September 6 from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. 
WHERE: Cairns Community Center, 58 Orchard St, Mt Clemens, MI 48043  

If you are interested in attending, please register here. 

Coffee and Conversation 

WHEN: Friday, September 20 from 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. 
WHERE: District Office, 28800 Harper, Saint Clair Shores, MI 48081 

District Office Hours with Staff 
WHEN: Every Thursday from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. and by appointment. 
WHERE: District Office, 28800 Harper, Saint Clair Shores, MI 48081 

Contact Us 

If You Need Help: If you have a problem dealing with any department of state government, such as accessing unemployment benefits, my office is available to help resolve it. While we usually cannot assist with local or federal issues, we will always do our best to help direct you to the appropriate person or organization for help.   

You may always feel free to call my office at (517) 373-7315 or email me at SenKHertel@senate.michigan.gov.   

Keep Up to Date: Our bi-weekly newsletters are full of updates on what Team Hertel has been working on both in Lansing and District 12 to deliver results for Michiganders. To keep up to date with what we’ve been up to — sign up here to receive my bi-weekly newsletter, or access previous editions online here.   

For more frequent updates, I also encourage you to follow our team on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.