JFK - ays U.S.School Needs Imperative - Three State Aid Bills Introduced

Sep 21, 2026

Uploaded by Theodore

The document reports President Kennedy’s address to Congress on a school-education crisis and the proposed enactment of a five-year, $5.7 billion federal aid program, framed around constitutional separation of church and state. It summarizes three introduced state aid bills (HB-188, HB-243, and a third bill) including proposed increases, per-pupil allowances, and deductible millage rates. It also covers MEA board decisions on nominating procedures for commission candidates and related administrative actions, plus additional administration measures for teacher education, college support, construction, and adult literacy.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages4

Reading Time10 min

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ays U.S.School Needs Imperative

Three State Aid Bills Introduced

MEA Nominating Procedure Approved

JFK # ays U.S.School Needs Imperative President Kennedy told Congress Feb.6 a crisis in American schooling makesit imperative that a five-year $5.7 billionaid to education program be enacted thisyear.He asked no help for church andprivate elementary and high schools.Contending federal outlays for churchschools would violate the constitutionalconcept of separation of church and state,the President said his program offers "themaximum scope permitted by our con-stitution.” # Three State Aid Bills Introduced THREE STATE AID BILLS have been introduced in the House.HB-188 colls for on eightper cent increose in stote school support bosed on the net membership ollowonce.Providingon odditionol$21.6 million in public school funds,this proposol wos developed by the stote'smojor educotionol groups,including the MEA,the Michigon Associotion of SchoolAdministrotors,the Michigon Associotion of School Boords,the Deportment of PublicInstruction,ond the Michigon Congress of Porents ond Teochers.This bill is sponsoredby oll 53 Democrotic representotives ond hos been endorsed by Gov.John B.Swoinson.The second stote oid bill,HB-243,hos been introduced in the House by Rep.Roymond C.Wurzel(R-St.Cloir)ond six other Republicons.Providing obout $20 million in oddi-tionol school funds,it colls for o gross ollowonce of $220 per pupil ond o deductiblemilloge of 3.5.The present stote oid formulo provides o gross ollowonce of $205 perpupil with 3.25 mills deductible. Refuting reports that the Administra-tion would be willing to forego funds foraiding public school construction andhigher teachers'pay,the President putthat measure at the top of his list($2.1billion over a three-year period). "There is very little difference between HB-188 and HB-243,"soid Richord Adoms,MEAossistont executive secretory for governmentol relotions."The eight per cent proposoltronsloted into gross ollowonce and deductible milloge equols $221.40 per pupil ond 3.51mills deductible.Speciol appropriotions in the two bills ore exactly the some.It's unfortunatethat porty positions seem to be threatening the stote's educotional progrom.It is now upto the House Educotion Committee(where both bills hove been referred)to ironout the minor differences and present a bill to the floor thot con hove biportison support." Next came aid for college construc-tion and scholarships($2.6 billion overfive years).Separate college-aid billshave already passed both the Senate andthe House (see the story on page 444). A third stote oid bill wos introduced in the House Feb.8 by Rep.Lester J.Allen(R-Ithoco)ond Rep.George Montgomery(D-Detroit).This meosure would increose thegross ollowonce to $250 per pupil ond the deductible milloge to five mills.Rep.Allenestimotes his proposol wauld omount to o$13 million increose in school oid. Finally came an array of“special”education and training programs withemphasis on more support for scienceand engineering,medical and dentaltrammg a3d a broad attack on adultilliteract # MEA Nominating Procedure Approved The Presiaent spoke out strongly for1gorols governtnent help.In the pastyear,he said,dyar crucial needs...haveintensifed anu our deficiencies havegrown mars tritical.It is imperative thatsuch a proposal carrying out these ob-jectives be enactdd this session." A new procedure to nominate candi-dates to MEA commissions and commit-tees has been approved by the MEAboard of directors.Meeting in LansingJan.26-27,the board approved anexecutive committee recommendation"whereby,on long-term appointments,notification of vacancies be sent to affili-ated departments and regions and thatnominations and biographical materialson nominees be requested from theseunits with the stipulation that nomina-tions from region councils be channeledthrough the board member from theregion."In other action the MEA board: ployees Association,an MEA departmentis Bernard Davis,Hillsdale. Allowed the St.Clair county distriretto dissolve.This action permits the con-stituen

FAQs

What program did President Kennedy urge Congress to enact for American schooling?

Kennedy asked for enactment of a five-year $5.7 billion aid to education program.

What do HB-188 and HB-243 propose regarding state education funding?

HB-188 calls for an eight percent increase in state school support based on net membership allowance, and HB-243 proposes additional school funds with a gross allowance per pupil and a deductible millage rate.

What change did the MEA board approve to the nominating procedure for its commissions and committees?

The MEA board approved a procedure for long-term appointments where notification of vacancies goes to affiliated departments and regions, and nominations with biographical material are requested from those units with regional nominations channeled through the board member from the region.

Sep 21, 2026

Uploaded by Theodore