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Dear Friends and Neighbors,
Welcome to the latest edition of my e-newsletter.
Below you’ll find an update on what’s happening in your state Capitol and some additional resources I hope you find helpful.
Thank you for allowing me to represent you in the Michigan Senate. I am grateful each and every day to work for the people of the 34th Senate District.
Sincerely,
Roger Hauck
State Senator
34th Senate District
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Pathfinder: Free tool available to help students make career decisions
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Pathfinder is a free online career exploration tool available to every Michigan student, their parents and guidance counselors.
Pathfinder was developed by the Michigan Department of Education’s Office of Career and Technical Education in partnership with the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity as a result of Public Act 88 of 2022. The tool provides valuable information to help students make informed choices about educational and career options, and includes filters to help individuals explore jobs, fields, and schools and choose multiple paths for comparison.
The law requires school districts in Michigan to provide students in grades 8-12 with a post-graduation opportunities informational packet, including information on how to access the Pathfinder tool. This requirement includes intermediate school districts, public school academies, or nonpublic schools.
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Weigh in on state forest road changes
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Each year, the DNR reviews the approximately 11,600 miles of forest roads currently open to the public. Road information is reviewed to make sure digital maps match the landscape and help people identify which roads are open or closed to public use.
Trail users are asked to share their thoughts on the trails they use the most and help the DNR keep its maps of thousands of miles of forest roads accurate. Comments on forest road maps may be submitted at any time, however, feedback received by Aug. 31 will be considered when developing the 2024 maps.
To view the status of forest roads and submit comments on an interactive map, visit Michigan.gov/ForestRoads or email comments to [email protected].
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Important back to school information
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• The Michigan Department of Education has updated A Parent’s Guide to Personal Curriculum: Focus on Students with an IEP. The personal curriculum can support students with an individualized education plan by modifying Michigan Merit Curriculum standards and credits, making it possible to achieve a high school diploma.
• The U.S. Department of Education requires that intermediate school districts and local education agencies, as a condition of receiving funds under any portion of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) of 1965 as amended, receive an annual certification that it has no policy that prevents or otherwise denies participation in constitutionally protected prayer in public schools. A district’s failure to submit the required certification may result in the district’s loss of funding under ESEA. Certifications are due on or before Sept. 22.
• Public Law 108-447 requires all educational institutions who receive federal funds to hold an educational program about the U.S. Constitution on Sept. 17. Since Constitution Day falls on a Sunday this year, schools must hold a program immediately before or after Sept. 17.
• All Michigan K-12 schools are eligible to obtain free air purifiers through the MI Safe School Indoor Air Ventilation program. Air purifiers are provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Epidemiology Laboratory Capacity Reopening Schools grants. For more information or to submit a request, visit the MI Safe Schools Indoor Air Ventilation Program Request Form.
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Back-to-school safety tips
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As our students head back to school, it is a great time to review bus safety tips. If your students ride the bus, make sure they are familiar with the proper safety procedures for getting on and off the bus. The Michigan State Police offer these safety tips for students:
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• Always stay in sight of the bus driver.
• Don't hurry off the bus; check traffic first.
• Never go back to the bus after exiting.
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It is even more important that drivers know how to safely share the road with school buses. When encountering a school bus, drivers should always:
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• Prepare to stop when a slowing bus has its overhead yellow lights flashing.
• Stop at least 20 feet away from buses when red lights are flashing, unless driving in the opposite direction on a divided highway.
• Slow down in or near school and residential areas.
• Watch for children between parked cars and other objects.
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Legislature once again passes equalized funding for K-12 schools
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After the passage of Proposal A in 1994, there was a gap in the per-student funding each school received. In 2021, that gap was finally closed, and now all Michigan public schools receive the same minimum amount of per-pupil funding — regardless if they live in a rural, urban or suburban district.
Under the leadership of legislative Republicans, per-student funding has gone up every year for more than a decade.
The fiscal year 2024 budget increased the minimum per-student funding by $458. This year, schools will receive $9,608 per student, which will provide more educational resources and opportunities for Michigan students.
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Invasive species watch list updated
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Two new species have been added to Michigan’s invasive species watch list, the mountain pine beetle and the water-primrose.
The mountain pine beetle is a deadly threat to pine trees. It is an aggressive, persistent, and destructive bark beetle and is native to western North America, ranging from Northern Mexico to Canada and eastward to the Black Hills of South Dakota. The beetle can be transported on infested trees, logs, lumber, firewood or plant parts, and poses an immediate threat to Michigan’s natural resources and forest products industry.
If you find suspected signs of mountain pine beetle on pine trees, note the location and take photos. Report your findings to either the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development via email at [email protected] or the Midwest Invasive Species Information Network using its online reporting tool.
Invasive water-primrose is a non-native plant that is invasive in a wetland ecosystem. The species can survive and thrive in Michigan’s climate and can be very difficult to remove, making early detection critical. Water-primrose species are aquatic plants that can thrive and spread in shallow water areas, including wetlands and shorelines. Water-primrose will grow quickly, crowding out important native vegetation. Suspected water-primrose sightings can be reported through the Midwest Invasive Species Information Network online reporting tool.
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Game-specific hunting guides available for download
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Each year, the DNR publishes regulation guides for hunting and fishing in Michigan. The Michigan hunting and fishing guides provide a condensed collection of the rules and regulations, including the boundaries of each of the management units for individual species. Guides are available for general hunting and fishing or game-specific guides for games like bear, elk, and turkey, and can be downloaded to your mobile device.
A hunting and fishing app is also available for download. The Michigan DNR Hunt Fish app provides access to licenses, permits, regulations, map drawing results, along with outdoor recreation updates.
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