"SAVE the Children" early intervention and prevention initiative

  • Help students master the Skills needed to excel

  • Build Alliances between home and school

  • Provide Valuable training for teachers

  • Foster the Early learning success that lays the foundation for later life success

For Michigan students to compete in a global economy, it is absolutely vital that they get the best educational start as early as possible. As a former educator, with 19 years of experience in public education, I have made it my lifelong goal to promote programs that offer early intervention and prevention of learning failure to Michigan children.

After working with education experts, in 2005 I introduced the "SAVE the Children" early intervention and prevention initiative. This package was signed into law on April 14, 2006 as Public Acts 118-121 of 2006.

The package encourages teachers to recognize early learning challenges facing some of our youngest learners, those in kindergarten through third grade. Most often potential difficulties surface as early as kindergarten. Bringing together teachers, parents, educational specialists and administrators, promotes a team effort to analyze problems, develop and apply effective solutions. Schools can properly address the needs of students earlier, and avoid the expense of special education later. Special education costs an additional $70,000-100,000 per student more than general education over the course of a student's lifetime.

SAVE the ChildrenPublic Act 118, SB 327 of 2006, focuses on further preparation for teachers teaching reading in the classroom. Teachers now must take a class in the diagnosis and remediation of reading problems that is age-appropriate for their certification level within the first six years of employment in order to receive their recertification. This allows teachers to face one of the biggest challenges they may encounter: meeting struggling students' needs as soon as they arise.

Public Acts 119 and 121 of 2006 allow school districts to use Small Class Size, Durant Settlement and At-Risk funds to implement and maintain an early intervention and prevention program. Public Acts 118, 119 and 121 remain in statute.

Public Act 118, SB 329 of 2006, which created a state-wide grant program administered by the Department of Education. This Public Act was repealed on the Governor's recommendation in 2007. After the repeal I doubled my efforts to get this program back into law. The benefits to children and cost savings to schools make this initiative something that cannot be ignored.

During budget deliberations in 2007, the Senate adopted an amendment I offered placing Section 82 in the School Aid budget. Section 82 added permissive language to the budget that would allow intermediate school districts (ISDs) to develop a model program, like the grant program in PA 120, for their constituent districts. The amendment provides funding through Section 81 of the School Aid Act, which appropriates operating funds to ISDs.


Sen. Nancy Cassis' Senate Bill 1039 was unanimously approved by the Senate Committee on Education. SB 1039 would allow intermediate school districts to create and make available to their constituent districts a model early intervention and prevention of learning failure program. Testifying before the committee in favor of the bill were (from left) Dr. Leonard Rezmierski, superintendent of Northville Public Schools; Dr. Robert Sornson, president and founder of the Early Learning Foundation in Brighton; Kathleen Whitney, a teacher at Bulman Elementary School in Redford; Sen. Cassis; Susan Stanley, principal of Bulman Elementary School; and Kevin Magin, deputy superintendent of Wayne RESA.


Sen. Nancy Cassis, R-Novi, right, listens to Dr. Bob Sornson, Ph.D. testify before the Senate Education Committee in support of incorporating Cassis' SAVE the Children legislation into the Department of Education. Sornson is the founder of the Early Learning Foundation and former special education director of Northville Public Schools. The SAVE program is modeled after the Early Learning Success Initiative, which began as a pilot project in the Northville Public Schools.
Under this amendment, ISDs can work with other intermediate districts and their local districts to develop best practices based on what is working at other schools. Most importantly, this can be done without increasing costs to the district and state. I am happy we have found a compromise that allows this vital program to progress.

Reading is a skill crucial to all further learning. It is a fact that students who cannot read well fall further and further behind each year and if this problem continues without being resolved, by the time they reach high school, many students will have given up on learning. By focusing on early intervention we can better educate our children, give them a brighter future and save money at the same time. It is time to expand this proven method of enhancing learning statewide. I believe we can make a positive change that will improve the quality of education and learning opportunities for Michigan children.

Public Act 582, SB 1039 of 2008 placed the SAVE the Children program in the Revised School Code and set specific requirements for early intervention programs. This act allows intermediate school districts (ISDs) to develop model early intervening programs for children in kindergarten through third grade using funds from Section 81 of the School Aid Act in order to make the programs available to their constituent districts and public school academies. This is one of the most important achievements in my career as an educator and legislator. I am proud to have been a leader in this regard.

In the 2004-2005 school year, Northville was able to save $7.3 million in special education costs that could then be redirected into the classroom for other uses. The legislation is modeled after a successful program already being used in the Northville Public Schools and elsewhere around the state and country. In the 2004-2005 school year, Northville was able to save $7.3 million in special education costs that could then be redirected into the classroom for other uses. The results of the program have been consistent over all socio-economic backgrounds and the benefits to children include higher self esteem and less likelihood of being involved later in risky adolescent behavior including drug/alcohol abuse, dropping out of high school and criminal behavior.

Now, I have authored a bill to permanently place the SAVE program into the School Code. Senate Bill 634 would require the Michigan Department of Education to develop or adopt a model early intervention program for children in kindergarten through third grade. The bill also requires that the department make the program available to school districts, intermediate school districts (ISDs), and public school academies. The Senate has passed SB 634 and it is awaiting a hearing in the House Education Committee.

For more information regarding this important legislation and how you can get involved, please feel free to contact my office by phone at 1.888.38.NANCY or e-mail at senncassis@senate.michigan.gov.