(Source: MIRS.news, Published 05/22/2024) House Democrats Wednesday signed off on two bill packages requiring public school academies (PSA), also known as charter schools, to post employee salary information online and share authorizer information on their signage and advertising.
Both packages passed along party lines, 56-54, with Republicans continuing their trend of opposing legislation further regulating charter schools.
Rep. Matt Koleszar (D-Plymouth)’s HB 5269 - a bill requiring that charter schools, urban high school academies, strict discipline academies, schools of excellence and educational management organizations (EMO) post salary information on their website - would require schools to comply by Nov. 1 each year with the requirements.
Those include the average salary for both new and veteran teachers if there are more than five and the average salary of all teachers employed if there are less than five, along with the average salaries of support staff.
The bill was opposed by the Great Lakes Education Project Education Fund and the Mackinac Center for Public Policy during committee, groups that also opposed the second package, which includes Rep. Regina Weiss (D-Oak Park)’s HB 5231, Rep. Stephanie Young (D-Detroit)’s HB 5232, Rep. Samantha Steckloff (D-Farmington Hills)’s HB 5233 and Rep. Helena Scott (D-Detroit)’s HB 5234, together requiring PSAs to include the name of their authorizer and potential educational management organization on all signage, advertising and promotional materials.
On the floor, Koleszar said the package as a whole is all about increased transparency, especially when it comes to new teachers who are looking to put down roots in Michigan.
He said currently, it’s incredibly difficult to find payroll transparency and look up salary information relating to charter schools.
On searching for authorizer information, Koleszar said you have to “get through quite a bit to be able to find that information."
“Residents don’t have time,” he said. “It's a lot easier if it's just on promotional materials, if it’s just on a sign.”
