(The Center Square) – With just 14 days until the budget deadline, Michigan Senate Democrats are pushing their own education budget proposal for fiscal year 2025-2026.
This comes as Republicans in the state House propose a total overhaul of the Michigan education budget, which Democrats labeled “terrible.”
In contrast, they say the Senate plan will prioritize the needs of Michigan students.
“Michigan’s students are our future, and this budget reflects the responsibility we have to provide them with the safe, supportive, and high-quality education they deserve,” said Sen. Camilleri, D-Trenton and chair of the Senate PreK-12 Appropriations Subcommittee. “By investing in mental health resources, modernizing our school facilities, and helping students focus in school through free school meals, we are setting up every child for success.”
The $21.8 billion budget proposal, $1 billion more than the current budget, would raise the state’s per-student foundation allowance to $10,008. That’s an increase of $400 per student, making it the highest allowance in state history. It’s significantly less than the budget proposed by Republicans though, which would raise the state’s per-student foundation allowance to $12,000.
The Senate budget also puts a requirement on the per-student allowance, stating that 50% of it must be used by districts to increase teacher pay.
Here are a few other key things to know about this proposal:
• It includes $2.5 billion in investments for student mental health.
• A continued financial commitment to free school breakfast and lunches for all students.
• More funding for free preschool programs.
While both Republicans and Democrats claim to have similar goals like smaller classroom sizes and updating school infrastructure, the bills go about achieving those goals in very different ways.
Republicans are pushing for decentralization in their budget proposal.
“This is a needs-based budget for our local schools and our kids,” said state Rep. Jamie Thompson, R-Brownstown. “Districts will have the option to focus more of this record funding where they feel it can be best spent – like for increased school breakfast and lunch programs, expanded career and tech education, school safety improvements, or new textbooks – instead of having to follow rigid rules that cause some money to be unused or underutilized. That flexibility is something that has been sorely lacking as part of this process over the last few years.”
Democrats are pushing for “record funding in K-12 schools while protecting critical services,” but it would come with more rigid rules for how monies would be allocated.
“We have no greater responsibility than to invest in our children and their safety, well-being, and success,” said Sen. Kevin Hertel, D-St. Clair Shores. “It’s essential that we do everything we can to protect and support them.”
Both sides have called for negotiations to finalize a plan before the state-mandated July 1 deadline, which is also when the fiscal year starts for school districts.
