A new study echoes what researchers have been saying for years: Michigan’s school funding system is unfair to its most vulnerable students.
These students include low-income students, English language learners, and students with disabilities. The latest study, published in April 2023 by the New Jersey Education Law Center, found that it would take an average of $3,000 or more per student in additional funding for school districts in those districts’ lower-income areas to be considered adequately funded.
But the Detroit Free Press has more questions. We want to get a better picture of what inequality in school funding looks like. Using the form below or by emailing [email protected], explain how funding affects your school, whether you are a parent, caregiver, student, teacher, administrator or community member.
Are your school materials up-to-date? Are the buildings safe and welcoming? What are the class sizes like? Does your child receive the federally mandated special education services outlined in his or her learning plan?
said Tanner Delber, study author and labor economist for the Michigan Educational Association.
The Education Law Center found that funding gaps were greatest in lower-income cities and rural areas, including the Grand Rapids Public Schools and the Saginaw Public School District. Wealthier suburban areas saw smaller gaps.
These findings reinforce research over the past decade that has found that Michigan schools are not being equitably funded. The School Finance Research Collaborative, based in East Lansing, has long recommended that Michigan allocate additional money to districts to help vulnerable student groups, including students with disabilities and English language learners. The collaboration recommended a complete overhaul of Michigan’s school funding formula.
The Education Law Center study indicates the state should contribute an additional $4.5 billion to its education budget, which includes $1.6 billion for Universal Preschool, an expanded early childhood program proposed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.
The 2022-2023 budget included $19.6 billion for K-12 schools. Of that $20 billion, about $10 billion went to the state foundation allowance, which allocates schools $9,150 per student. The state spent $1.5 billion on special education, an increase of more than $200 million over the previous year. But district leaders say that still greatly reduces what they need to spend to provide special education services. For example, the Detroit Public Schools Community District used $33 million in public education dollars to cover shortfalls in private education.
Contact Lily Altavena: [email protected].