Michigan Legislature Passes Education Budget

 

The Michigan House and Senate passed a $15.2 billion school aid budget on Thursday which increased funding for classrooms by $304 million and special education services by $30 million.

The budget will also increase the amount of per-pupil funding schools receive between 1.4 and 3 percent, meaning schools could receive between an extra $120 to $240 per student. The largest increase will go to schools currently receiving the minimum per-pupil allowance.

Per-student funding is the largest portion of state money given to schools.

“We’ve come together. We’ve reached an agreement and we want to get our schools funded,” said Speaker of the House Lee Chatfield (R-Levering), according to the Detroit Free Press. “I’m happy to stand on a bipartisan way with a product that I think is very healthy.”

The bill narrowly passed in the Senate on a 21-17 vote. It was voted against by all Democratic members and Sen. Tom Barret (R-Potterville).

Sen. Jeff Irwin (D-Ann Arbor) said that budget allocates 25 percent less money than 15 years ago when adjusted for inflation and that the state is asking “schools and teachers to do more with less.”

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer expressed disappoint for the budget, which raised school funding $136 million less than she originally proposed.

“In March, Gov. Whitmer proposed a budget that included $507 million for public education, which would help local schools raise teacher pay, reduce class sizes and upgrade technology. The governor’s budget would also triple the number of literacy coaches, improve classroom resources for special education needs, provide more funding for low-income and at-risk children, and expand career, skills, and technical education in Michigan high schools,” said Tiffany Brown, spokeswoman for Whitmer. “While the school aid budget passed by the legislature includes some additional funding, it is still nowhere near what the governor proposed in the executive budget, and far short of what our children deserve.”

The school budget now moves to Whitmer for consideration.

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Jordyn Pair is a reporter at The Michigan Star.
Background Photo “Michigan House Floor” by Steve & Christine. CC BY 2.0.