To provide a “template” or “place holder” for a Fiscal Year 2012-2013 K-12 School Aid budget. This bill contains no appropriations, but may be amended at a later date to include them.   Official Text and Analysis.

With the recommendation that the substitute (S-1) be adopted and that the bill then pass.

To adopt a version of this budget that expresses the fiscal and policy preferences of the Republican-majority in the Senate on various spending items and programs.

To increase the amount given to around 50 so-called "20j" school districts, which tend to be wealthier ones, with some exceptions.

To add $550,000 in spending for three particular school districts in the amendment sponsor's district.

To add $30 million intended to reduce the difference in spending levels between different school districts.

To provide an additional $177 million to regular and intermediate school districts, to use against the amount they are assessed to cover school employee pensions. Also, to strip out $58 million proposed for creating "computer adaptive" tests for students in grades two through 12 that give students and teachers "immediate feedback" on the student's progress, and providing "incentive grants" to districts that use them.

To cut $1,000 per student from support to charter schools, unless they place their employees in the (heavily underfunded) school employee pension system. The money saved would pay for the optional post-retirement health insurance benefits now provided to school retirees (which unlike cash pension benefits, are completely unfunded). Almost all charter schools provide their employees 401(k)-type retirement benefits, rather than the "defined benefit" pensions and retiree health insurance granted to conventional school employees (a system that was ended for new state employees starting in 1997, and has become very rare outside of government).

To increase overall school spending by $495 million, and increase per-student spending by $300.

To increase the amount given to certain school districts.

The Senate version of the school aid budget for the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1, 2012. This would appropriate $12.712 billion, compared to $12.659 billion authorized the previous year. The bill would increase the per-pupil foundation grant to school districts by between $116 and $232, depending on whether they now get more or less than average. Among many other differences, the Senate significantly watered down and reduced the dollar amounts of "best practices" grants proposed by Gov. Rick Snyder, which distribute some school aid money on the basis of whether schools adopt various fiscal and transparency reforms.

To strip out all of the appropriations of the Senate-passed version of the bill, which is basically a procedural method of launching negotiations to work out the differences between the House and Senate budgets.

To send the bill back to the Senate "stripped" of all actual appropriations. This vote is basically a procedural method of launching negotiations to work out the differences between the House and Senate budgets.

To concur with the House-passed version of the budget. The vote sends the bill to a House-Senate conference committee to work out the differences.

The House-Senate conference report for the school aid budget for the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1, 2012. This would appropriate $12.944 billion, compared to $12.659 billion authorized the previous year. The bill would increase the per-pupil foundation grant to school districts that currently get less than average by $120, and other districts would get smaller increases based on student performance and their adoption of fiscal best practices. The identical budget is included in House Bill 5372.