Since 1991 the state of Michigan has provided a stable level of funding ($4.2 million) for an increasing number of students eligible for bilingual services. The higher number of limited English speaking students in the state has had a direct impact on the funds available to local districts. The following figures show the diminished per pupil allocation over the past nine years.

Since 1991, RESA and its consortium districts have worked cooperatively to provide cost effective bilingual/ESL tutorial services for the limited English speaking. A formal consortium agreement was drawn up in 1990 in order to articulate the responsibilities of all parties involved. The local district consortium representatives meet twice a year to discuss issues and modify program and service delivery.

In April of 1993, the group met to discuss the state funding level, which was found to be insufficient to allow RESA to continue to provide tutorial services through to the end of the school year. Local districts decided to contribute sufficient additional funds to allow the services to continue through June 1993.

Beginning with the consortium agreement for the 1993-94 school year, the local contact persons agreed to the need for the services provided by RESA and showed their support by agreeing to enhance the state funding for up to $200 per pupil per year. In the 1994-95 agreement, that support was increased to $400 per pupil per year. In the 1996-97 agreement, the $400 per pupil per year level was maintained. That agreement carried with it an addendum to fund additional time for needy students at the rates specified. In addition, consortium members agreed to assure payment by their special education departments for bilingual/ESL staff time related to special education services. In short, the only services for which the local districts do not pay are for administrative/consultant services.

With the revision of the Michigan School Code in 1996, bilingual programs are no longer a state mandate. The current permissive program standards, with their changed wording, has changed the RESA consortium’s ability to capture state funds for all the students that it serves. Although the state is still funding bilingual programs at the $4.2 million dollar level, RESA can no longer apply for funds if it does not employ like language staff. As a result, RESA is passing on the state funding shortage to the local consortium districts

For the 1998-99 school year, constituent districts have agreed to pay RESA $500 per student for bilingual/ESL services to enhance state funding. The districts further agreed to support the cost of RESA hiring an additional ESL consultant to enhance on-site assistance to classroom teachers and supervision of tutorial staff. RESA has been able to hire the additional consultant to fill this position. The entire per pupil cost to each district will be $700 plus $111 for those students referred after the fall count date but before the section 41 application was filed or those students who are not section 41 eligible. An additional hour of service per week will cost the districts $500 per year.

The 1999-2000 school year brings a growing number of refugee students to Wayne County as well as other parts of the state and country. In response to this increase, a Refugee Children School Impact Grant funded under section 412(e)(1)(A)iii of the Immigration and Nationality Act (P.L.105-177) was made available to us through the Michigan Department of Education based on a per pupil count. With this award, we receive an additional $96,525 to target special assistance to the reported 343 students. These services that these funds will provide will supplement the services already provided. A state department approved plan will direct the focus of this project necessitating totally separate fiscal tracking. This level of funding has been approved to continue for the 2000-2001 school year. Funding is anticipated, based on an updated student count for 2002-2003.

For the 2002-2003 school year, the cost charged to districts for each student based on the fall count will be $700. There will be no additional costs levied due to the increase in other funding sources.

The new Title I reauthorization, now known as NCLB, will require certain changes to our program’s operations. We have already begun to update and enhance our student data collection files to include an adequate yearly progress indication to calculate growth in English proficiency. Once specific directives are given to us by the Michigan Department of Education specifying the formula for adequate progress, we will be ready to calculate individual progress for each student. We have also taken steps to insure that all staff working with students meet the new staff certification requirements. (See Title III booklet). A method is being developed to export student data information for districts to use for SRSD.

The 2003-2004 school year began with a budget deficit necessitating increasing the per pupil cost to participating districts by $75. Wayne RESA general funds allocated financial support to offset some of the deficit so that all the burden was not passed on to the local districts. Even with this contribution, a $75 per pupil per year increase for services will be necessary for the next few years. The 2004-2005 per pupil cost for service will be $850.An amendment to the Title III plan has allowed additional student services costs to be chargeable to the Title III budget. Refugee funding has continued to be used to support professional development and summer school programming. Title III funds will continue to support a portion of the TransACT NCLB parent communication costs.

The 2004-2005 school year began with the rollout and implementation of the state’s new English Language Proficiency Standards. Districts will be offered training on how best to implement these standards. In addition, districts will again be offered training on how best to modify instruction for ELLs. District per pupil costs have been increased to help defray the operating costs deficit. With the change in the section 41 funding requirements, districts will be charged not only for ESL students but also for bilingual students who have been reported for section 41 for more than three years.