MASB is a member driven, member focused organization and our members have both a strong interest and a strong voice in the future of their organization. This means that MASB reflects, as best it can, the views and voices of member districts in the legislative priorities and positions we put forth. MASB’s Government Relations team works at the state and federal level to make sure that policies and legislation being considered are in the best interests of our members, their districts and the students.

We use input from the Legislative Priorities (generated and voted on by MASB members), Government Relations Committee, MASB’s Resolutions (adopted by the membership at the annual Delegate Assembly), and direct feedback from all of you to advocate on legislation.

Our Legislative Priorities are set every two years. We will hold Legislative Priority Setting Meetings throughout the state in September and October. These regional meetings bring together board members, superintendents and MASB’s Government Relations staff and present an opportunity to discuss the issues that matter most to you and your districts. The discussions will guide the Association's focus for the 2025-2026 legislative session.

The ideas generated in the regional meetings are put into a survey for all members to identify their top three priorities in general issue areas such as governance, finance and student supports/curriculum. The top priorities in each area are then given to the Government Relations Committee to consider and create the final document. Setting legislative priorities allows us to create and set the dialogue around issues that are most important to public education in Michigan.

The Government Relations Committee is made up of school board members from around the state, encompassing different types and sizes of districts. The committee monitors state and federal policy and budget legislation and executive actions pertaining to public education and school districts. Through conversations and debate at monthly meetings, the committee forms MASB’s position on pending legislation. If you are interested in becoming more involved in the legislative process, you can apply to be a member of the committee. For more information on joining an MASB committee, please contact Cheryl Huffman.

MASB’s Resolutions are the driving force behind positions taken by the Association on issues important to public education and school boards in Michigan. General resolutions include things such as increasing board member effectiveness, promotion and advocacy of public education, continuous school improvement, and implementation of Association programs. Advocacy resolutions include allowing schools to choose to start before Labor Day, encouraging parent participation in our schools, and maintaining healthy learning environments for all students and staff. 

Legislative positions are taken on specific pieces of legislation after discussion with our Government Relations Committee. These are things that legislators introduce that were not originally identified as priorities but are important pieces that our members want to ensure we are taking a stand on. We then engage with the legislature through testimony before committees, statements of positions on specific legislation, letters to legislators, and more. 

While we are your voice at the Capitol, we often need your help to amplify the message. We will reach out with information on legislation and ask you to contact your elected officials to share personal stories and what impact the legislation could have on your district, students or staff. Only you can tell your Representative and Senator exactly how their actions and votes will affect your district and their constituents. Tying a state legislative issue directly to its impact on the community is the most powerful form of advocacy. 

MASB tries to make being involved in advocacy easy. At masb.org/votervoice, you can sign up to receive the weekly News From the Capitol email, find out who your state and federally elected representatives are, keep track of legislation we are following and our positions, and respond to any legislative calls to action. In addition to the state budget, there are hundreds of bills introduced each year that impact local districts and public education. The calls to action will explain the issue and why it matters. When you respond to an alert, it automatically populates an email or phone script for you to your specific legislator and gives you talking points from which to draft your own message. We always encourage you to use specifics from your district to personalize the message. 

We want your involvement in advocating for public education! MASB’s legislative agenda is only as strong as the number of voices who create it. So, plan to attend your region’s meeting this fall and encourage your fellow board members to do the same. Keep an eye on our website calendar for registration information in the upcoming months.

If you have questions, please feel free to contact us.