Department Releases Administrative Guidelines for Consolidation of Services Plans

The Michigan Department of Education (MDE) has released the final administrative guidelines for the service consolidation plans required of those schools that choose to take advantage of the flexibility language in section 11d of the FY 2009-10 School Aid Fund budget. Per the budget language, schools may choose to apply the $165 per pupil cut to categorical programs if they enter into an agreement with MDE to develop a plan to examine consolidation of services. If schools choose not to enter into an agreement, the full amount of the cut must be taken from section 22b monies until that funding is exhausted. The guidelines are available at the MDE website.