Commission approves resolution on income inequality in education

Published on April 13, 2023

Wayne County Commissioners on Tuesday, April 11, approved a resolution calling for action on ending income inequality in education in Michigan.

The resolution was presented by members of the Wayne County Commission Youth Council, a body of 18 students from high schools throughout the county formed to address issues of concern to young people.

"Each year, the youth commission takes on a key issue and this was a major focus of their efforts this school year," said Commissioner Monique Baker McCormick (D-Detroit), who founded the council and works with its members.

"This year, we chose to focus on income oppression because of how pervasive it is in affecting the youth of Wayne County," said youth council Chair Dierra Surles, a senior at Cass Technical High school and three-year council member.

Presentation of the resolution was the last formal act of this year's youth council, which met once a month, via Zoom, during the current school year.

Wayne County Commission Chair Alisha Bell (D-Detroit) said all commission members were extremely proud of what this year's youth council had accomplished.

"We encourage them and we support them because we know they are our future leaders," Chair Bell said.

The resolution links the lack of funding equality in education to a lack of economic opportunity, citing figures noting that school districts with minority enrollment of 50 percent or more are generally underfunded when compared with other districts. Students in those districts are also twice as likely to have repeated a grade.

The resolution notes that Wayne County includes five of the 10 school districts serving the poorest residents in the state, with Hamtramck heading the list based on median household income.

The resolution calls on the state to adopt measures boosting revenue for underfunded districts, assuring their students the same opportunities as those in other districts. Copies of this Resolution will be forwarded to Governor Gretchen Whitmer, members of the Wayne County delegation in the Michigan Legislature, the Michigan State Board of Education and all school boards in the county.

In addition to the resolution, youth council members also presented their annual report detailing their other activities, including traveling to Lansing to discuss gun safety and student mental health issues with legislators during Advocacy Day last fall and participating in advocacy training at Wayne State University.

Applications to join next year's Wayne County Commission Youth Council will be available in August to students attending 10th through 12th grade in any Wayne County High School.

Application forms and other information will be available by contacting Commissioner Baker McCormick's office at (313) 224-0884 or sending an email to bakermccormickstaff@waynecounty.com.

A copy of the youth council resolution is included.

RESOLUTION
No. 2023 - 001

Sponsored by Council Members: Dierra Surles, Zion McCann, Kelli Cox, Karis Robinson, Kavya Keshavamurthy, Keyaira Johnson, Josef Osbern, Robert Pawlowski, Jahnean Jackson, Thomas Besek, Sha'Cari Fleming-Brown, Payton Kitchen, Rishi Narendra Kumar, Jaida Lipscomb, Morgan Rowser, Sarah Salman and Muneeb Mahmood

WHEREAS, economic oppression is the social act of placing severe economic restrictions on individuals, groups or institutions, for example a lack of public resources such as college opportunities, test preparation resources for students in low income schools, lack of educators and insufficient technology; and

WHEREAS, economic oppression affects Wayne County youth and interferes with their education and future economic opportunities; and

WHEREAS, in the United States school districts that have more than 50 percent Black or Latino enrollment are nearly twice as likely to have a funding gap than school districts with minority enrollment less than 50 percent; and

WHEREAS, marginalized communities include those who have been historically excluded from involvement in our cities, as well as those continuing to face other barriers to civic participation. This includes those marginalized by factors like race, wealth, immigration status, and sexual orientation; and

WHEREAS, marginalized groups include those who have been historically excluded from involvement in our cities, as well as those continuing to face other barriers to civic participation. This includes those marginalized by factors like race, wealth, immigration status, and sexual orientation; and

WHEREAS, employment discrimination is a significant factor that affects the opportunities that Black Americans have for economic growth and in most cases caused by racism; and

WHEREAS, low-income school districts, most often in urban areas, are more than twice as likely to have a funding gap as higher income districts; and

WHEREAS, low-income students repeat grades at a rate of 28.8 percent compared to 14.1 percent of higher income families; and

WHEREAS, Wayne County holds 5 of the top 10 poorest schools in Michigan, including the poorest which include Hamtramck and Detroit; and

WHEREAS, Hamtramck Public Schools is considered the poorest school district in Michigan by median household income; and

WHEREAS, poverty rates in Detroit are high with approximately 68percent of children receiving government assistance; and

WHEREAS, graduation rates for Detroit schools are low at 78 percent, about 10 percent lower than the state average; and

WHEREAS, students in low-income, marginalized communities would greatly benefit from additional funding for internship programs, test preparation assistance, mentorship and scholarship programs, employment opportunities, and improved school technology;

Now therefore be it

RESOLVED, that the Wayne County Commission Youth Council on this 11th day of April 2023, recognizes that the affect economic oppression has on marginalized groups in Wayne County specifically impacts youth, and often stems from lack of educators, insufficient technology, and inadequate funding; and be it further

RESOLVED, that the Wayne County Commission Youth Council requests that the Wayne County Commission advocate for increased funding for marginalized communities that have insufficient resources in order to address the disparities between school district funding for those urban, low-income schools would result in increasing graduation rates, standardized test scores, and the number of students who pursue higher education; and be it further

RESOLVED, that the Wayne County Commission Youth Council implore the State Legislature, Governor Gretchen Whitmer and State Board of Education to allocate funding so that students in urban schools, in marginalized areas are provided the same resources and opportunities as students in suburban schools; and be it further

RESOLVED, that the Wayne County Commission Youth Council strongly urges the Wayne County Commission to implement internships for students in urban schools to ensure a level playing field between students in low-income, marginalized communities and students who are not; and be it further

RESOLVED, that the Wayne County Commission Youth Council requests that school districts and administrators add programs that allow students in urban areas to have resources such as mentoring and scholarship programs that partner with organizations to allow students to work and earn credit towards graduation. These programs can help students can help students close the economic gap while not adding on other societal pressures; and be it further

RESOLVED, that the Wayne County Commission Youth Council requests the Michigan Board of Education and local school districts ensure that opportunities such as financial literacy classes and mentoring programs are made mandatory in order to allow students in urban schools to have the same resources as those in suburban schools; and be it further

RESOLVED, that copies of this Resolution be forwarded to the Wayne County Commission, Governor Gretchen Whitmer, all members of the Wayne County delegation in the Michigan Legislature, the Michigan State Board of Education, and every school board within Wayne County.

Cutline: Pictured (l-r) are Youth Council members Robert Pawlowski and Dierra Surles, Youth Coordinator Nyrobia Mitchell and council member Josef Osbern.

Commission approves resolution on income inequality in education(PDF, 194KB)