Dear Neighbor,
Labor Day has now come and gone, and so has another beautiful Michigan summer. My legislative colleagues and I are heading back to the Senate chamber this month after a busy summer spent connecting with our constituents and communities. I’m eager to continue advocating on your behalf in Lansing and getting more practical solutions across the finish line to deliver on the issues that matter most to you.
Meanwhile, students throughout Michigan have returned to school. As a teacher with nearly 20 years of experience in the classroom, I understand the importance of a strong education to set up our children for a brighter future. That is why I’m excited to share this “Back-to-School” edition of my e-newsletter, which includes helpful tips along with resources to assist your family as students head back to the classroom.
If you or someone you know would like to provide any feedback about what’s happening in Lansing, or needs assistance of any sort, please feel free to reach out to my office. You can email us at SenDPolehanki@senate.michigan.gov or call 517-373-7350.
Sincerely,
Dayna Polehanki
State Senator
District 5
Featured in This Newsletter
- In Recent News
- Legislative Updates
- Resources
In Recent News
Families are Encouraged to Enroll 4-Year-Olds Now in Pre-K
It’s not too late for families to enroll their 4-year-olds in free, high-quality pre-K through their local school district. The recent historic investment in Pre-K for All included in the state’s new budget led by the Democratic majority will allow nearly 59,000 4-year-olds across the state to access free pre-K. As of Aug. 15, enrollment has expanded to all families regardless of income level, while continuing to prioritize families most in need.
Under the 2025 fiscal year state budget, free pre-K enrollment is open to families up to 400% of the federal poverty limit, or about $120,000 for a family of four.
Families still have time to enroll children who will be 4 years old by Dec. 1 in pre-K this fall! Availability varies by location, with priority given to those who need it most.
Visit MiPreKforAll.org to find programs near you.
Michigan Dept. of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential Extends Deadline for Adults Ages 21-24 to Apply for Tuition-Free Community College
The Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP) recently announced the application deadline for the Reconnect Age Expansion has been extended until Dec. 31 and is now applicable to students beginning their education in the winter and spring semesters of the 2024-2025 academic year.
Michigan Reconnect is the largest program in state history to help eligible students earn a skill certificate or degree tuition-free at their local community college.
Michiganders who are 21- to 24 –years old and are not already participating in Michigan Reconnect must complete the following steps to take advantage of this limited-time scholarship opportunity:
- Apply for the Michigan Reconnect scholarship at Michigan.gov/Reconnect by Dec. 31, 2024.
- File a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
- Apply and enroll in a community or tribal college no later than the summer semester of 2025.
For additional information, visit: michigan.gov/reconnect/community-college/michigan reconnect-for-ages-21-to-24.
Legislative Updates
Back-to-School Budget Signed
As students across Michigan head back to the classroom, I am excited to see how our state education budget positively impacts our students, teachers, parents, and communities. This summer, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer put her stamp of approval on the K-12 budget for the 2024-25 school year. This budget continues putting Michigan students and educators first and foremost, helping to set our kids up for futures full of success and opportunity.
Last year, our Democratic majority began the popular free breakfast and lunch program for all Michigan public school students — and in this year’s budget, we continued this critical program to ensure that Michigan’s 1.4 million public school students are well-fed and able to focus on learning. More information about the free breakfast and lunch program can be found here.
Our education budget also implements the state’s first-ever “Opportunity Index” equity funding formula that strategically invests more dollars into districts based on their concentration of poverty, prioritizing students and schools with the highest level of need.
We also delivered on the promise of two years of free community college for high school graduates, helping improve access to higher education and better paying jobs. This ensures that every Michigan high school graduate, beginning this year, can obtain an associate degree or skilled certificate tuition-free, saving over 18,000 students up to $4,820 annually.
Michigan Senate Democrats remain committed to meeting the needs and interests of students, educators, and families in every corner of our state, and we look forward to another school year full of learning, growth, and opportunity for our kids.
Filter First Legislation to Ensure Clean Drinking Water in 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 our water quality.
To ensure our students and teachers have access to clean drinking water at school, I co-sponsored 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.
Resources
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.
Safe Driving Tips as New School Year Begins
With the new school year underway, we’re sharing the road with school buses again. Here are some quick tips to remember when you see a school bus stopping for students to board.
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.