Erin Moore, Intern
In both her 2020 and 2021 state budget recommendations, Gov. Whitmer proposed a new weighted funding formula for the state’s public schools that would recognize the increased costs of educating children who face systemic barriers to learning, including the impact of long-term inequities based on race and ethnicity; economic inequality and insecurity; the lack of access to appropriate health care, nutrition and housing; exposure to environmental toxins like lead; and the lack of access to needed technology. A weighted school funding formula is also a way to ensure that school districts can provide a high-quality education to children with disabilities and other special needs, as well as English language learners.
Despite the growing support for a weighted formula, and the conclusion of the bipartisan School Finance Research Collaborative and other experts that a weighted formula is needed to improve equity, the Michigan Legislature rejected the governor’s proposed weighted formula in the 2020 budget, but did include much more moderate increases in funding for special education and other programs designed to help students with higher needs.
In the months since the governor released her 2021 budget, the worldwide explosion of COVID-19 has dramatically altered Michigan’s fiscal landscape, and forced public schools across the state to end in-person instruction. With the state facing unprecedented budget deficits both in the current budget year and in 2021, public schools have been warned to expect and plan for budget cuts. Because school costs are driven by personnel costs, if schools face deep cuts they would likely need to lay off teachers—at a time when social distancing may be needed to keep children and their families safe, and children’s education has already been disrupted.
Michigan’s public schools are now facing rising costs as a result of COVID-19, along with the threat of significant cuts in state aid. While public schools are receiving approximately $390 million in federal assistance, those funds must be used for COVID-19 costs such as planning for long-term closures and the purchase of technology for online learning. Currently, funding from the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act cannot be used to backfill losses in state revenues.
Under state law, if School Aid Fund revenues fall short, K-12 per-pupil payments are automatically prorated statewide unless the Legislature takes action to make more targeted cuts, or allocates other funds to cover the shortfall, including state General Fund or Budget Stabilization Fund dollars. In 2003, state aid to schools was prorated by 3.8% to cover a $127 million shortfall in the School Aid Fund. During the Great Recession, legislators bypassed the proration of per-pupil payments, but made cuts of $154 per pupil in 2010, and $170 per pupil in 2011.1 While per-pupil funding has increased since that time, when adjusted for inflation, Michigan was one of 12 states with per-pupil spending that remained below pre-recession levels in 2019.2
A pro-rata reduction for all Michigan schools ignores the differential needs of children in high-poverty schools and communities, and will only worsen already unacceptable inequities in educational achievement. As part of its 2021 budget priorities, the League supported a weighted funding formula as a way to increase educational equity, and now urges the Legislature to manage funding deficits with a focus on improving outcomes, or at a minimum mitigating harm, for the children facing the greatest number of barriers to educational success.
Michigan’s School Aid Fund
- 63% ($9.5 billion) of the total School Aid budget is used for the foundation allowance, a per-pupil payment to districts for basic operations.3
Other areas of spending are for special education (10%), early childhood education (2%) and the At-Risk School Aid Program (3%), which is currently Michigan’s primary vehicle for improving equity by providing additional funds to districts with high numbers of children who are economically disadvantaged.
Many Michigan Students Face Economic Hardships
- 1 in 5 children in Michigan lives in poverty, with higher rates for African American (38%) and Latinx (26%) children.4
- More than half of Michigan public school students (733,442 or 51%) qualify for free or reduced-priced school meals.5
- 676,483 students qualified for At-Risk School Aid Funds in Michigan in 2017, nearly half of the student population—up from 490,000 in 1995. Despite the increase in eligible children, total funding for the At-Risk program declined by 30% between 1995 and 2017 when adjusted for inflation.6 Increases in At-Risk funding in recent years have been a move in the right direction, but the program is still not fully funded.
Michigan Must Address Educational Disparities
State test results show unacceptably low levels of achievement for large numbers of Michigan students, but more significant and deep divides based on race, ethnicity and ZIP code. Children who are not economically disadvantaged are more than twice as likely to be proficient in math by 4th grade compared to less economically secure students, and only 16% of African American 4th-graders are proficient in math, compared to nearly half of their White peers.7
The unique failures of Michigan’s school funding system play a significant role in these unacceptable disparities. After reductions in the per-pupil allotment during the Great Recession, total funding increased, but never kept up with rising costs. Estimated School Aid Fund revenues in Michigan in 2020 were 3.9% lower than they were in 1995 when adjusted for inflation, while ongoing state General Funds were 7% lower than they were in 1968.8 As Michigan faces one of its greatest fiscal crises in our lifetimes, it must make the education of children a top priority, end its disinvestment in public education, and use its resources to come back better by empowering the students with the greatest barriers to achievement.
Endnotes:
- Mullen, J., Zielak, P., and Christensen, S., (May 12, 2020). Proration of Payments Under the School Aid Act, House Fiscal Agency. https://www.house.mi.gov/hfa/PDF/Alpha/Fiscal_Brief_School_Aid_Proration_May12.pdf
- Leachman, M. and Figueroa, E., (March 6, 2019). K-12 School Funding Up In Most 2018 Teacher-Protest States But Still Well Below a Decade Ago, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. https://www.cbpp.org/research/state-budget-and-tax/k-12-school-funding-up-in-most-2018-teacher-protest-states-but-still
- Christensen, S. and Mullen, J., (2020, January). Budget briefing: School Aid. House Fiscal Agency. https://www.house.mi.gov/hfa/PDF/Briefings/SchAid_BudgetBriefing_fy19-20.pdf
- Kids Count Datacenter, Annie E. Casey Foundation, accessed 5/14/2020. https://datacenter.kidscount.org/
- Kids Count Datacenter, Annie E. Casey Foundation, accessed 5/14/2020. https://datacenter.kidscount.org/
- Arsen, D., Delpier, T., and Nagel, J., (2019, January). Michigan school finance at the crossroads: A quarter century of state control. Michigan State University College of Education. https://education.msu.edu/ed-policy-phd/pdf/Michigan-School-Finance-at-the-Crossroads-A-Quarter-Center-of-State-Control.pdf
- Grades 3-8 Assessment: Proficiency Snapshot, M-Step, 4th Grade Content, MI School Data (2018-19). https://www.mischooldata.org/DistrictSchoolProfiles2/AssessmentResults/AssessmentGradesProficiency2.aspx
- Jeffries, E. (October 1, 2018). State Budget Overview, Senate Fiscal Agency. https://www.senate.michigan.gov/sfa/Publications/BudUpdates/StateBudgetOverview_MostRecent.pdf
Jay Cutler joined the League in March 2026 as the Kids Count Senior Data Analyst, where he collects, analyzes, and prepares data for Kids Count in Michigan.
Danielle Taylor-Basemore joined the League as the Development Data and Stewardship Coordinator in June 2025. She brings with her five years of nonprofit experience with a special focus on community engagement, data visualization and strategic programming. Prior to joining the League, Danielle served as the Business District, Safety, and Digital Manager at Jefferson East, Inc.
Scott Preston is a Senior Policy Analyst with the Michigan League for Public Policy, where he leads the organization’s immigration and criminal justice reform portfolios. In the three years prior to joining the League, Scott facilitated the Southeast Michigan Refugee Collaborative and managed a small business economic development program at Global Detroit. His work included launching Michigan’s first Refugee Film Festival and building on a trusted connector model that linked marginalized communities with crucial resources. Scott’s work at the League is informed by his background in journalism and research. He spent four years covering the Syrian refugee crisis in the Middle East for publications such as The Economist, and later worked with unaccompanied refugee minors through Samaritas. Scott holds a master’s degree in international migration and public policy from the London School of Economics and Political Science.
Kate Powers joined the League as the Chief Development Officer in February 2025. Prior to joining the League, Kate held leadership positions at many Michigan nonprofit organizations, most recently serving as the COO and Chief Development Officer of Ele’s Place. Kate has spent the bulk of her career in fundraising, with a short stint in the state Legislature as a legislative aide to members in both chambers. Kate is a graduate of Michigan State University’s James Madison College with a Bachelor of Arts in Social Relations and has a certificate in fundraising management from the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at Indiana University. Additionally, Kate served on the East Lansing Public Schools Board of Education and is a past President of the Junior League of Lansing. In her free time, she enjoys traveling with her husband and her son and saving outfit of the day and home decor ideas on Pinterest. 
Nicholas Hess joined the League as the Fiscal Policy Analyst in September of 2024. In this role, Nicholas focuses on tax policy, government revenue, and their impact on working families and racial equity, including the effects of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Child Tax Credit (CTC). Nicholas values the role that judicious fiscal policy can play in the improvement of people’s lives and the economy, alleviating inequities along the way.
Audrey Matusz joined the League as the Visual Communications Specialist in September 2024. She supports the team with implementing social media strategies and brainstorming creative ways to talk about public policy. She brings with her nearly a decade of experience in producing digital products for evidence-based social justice initiatives. 
Jacob Kaplan 
Donald Stuckey 
Alexandra Stamm 
Amari Fuller
Mikell Frey is a communications professional with a passion for using the art of storytelling to positively impact lives. She strongly believes that positive social change can be inspired by the sharing of data-driven information coupled with the unique perspectives of people from all walks of life across Michigan, especially those who have faced extraordinary barriers. 
Yona Isaacs (she/hers) is an Early Childhood Data Analyst for the Kids Count project. After earning her Bachelor of Science in Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience at the University of Michigan, she began her career as a research coordinator in pediatric psychiatry using data to understand the impacts of brain activity and genetics on children’s behavior and mental health symptoms. This work prompted an interest in exploring social determinants of health and the role of policy in promoting equitable opportunities for all children, families, and communities. She returned to the University of Michigan to complete her Masters in Social Work focused on Social Policy and Evaluation, during which she interned with the ACLU of Michigan’s policy and legislative team and assisted local nonprofit organizations in creating data and evaluation metrics. She currently serves as a coordinator for the Michigan Center for Youth Justice on a project aiming to increase placement options and enhance cultural competency within the juvenile justice system for LGBTQIA+ youth. Yona is eager to put her data skills to work at the League in support of data-driven policies that advocate for equitable access to healthcare, education, economic security, and opportunity for 0-5 year old children. In her free time, she enjoys tackling DIY house projects and trying new outdoor activities with her dog.
Rachel Richards rejoined the League in December 2020 as the Fiscal Policy Director working on state budget and tax policies. Prior to returning to the League, she served as the Director of Legislative Affairs for the Michigan Department of Treasury, the tax policy analyst and Legislative Director for the Michigan League for Public Policy, and a policy analyst and the Appropriations Coordinator for the Democratic Caucus of the Michigan House of Representatives. She brings with her over a decade of experience in policies focused on economic opportunity, including workforce issues, tax, and state budget.
Simon Marshall-Shah joined the Michigan League for Public Policy as a State Policy Fellow in August 2019. His work focuses on state policy as it relates to the budget, immigration, health care and other League policy priorities. Before joining the League, he worked in Washington, D.C. at the Association for Community Affiliated Plans (ACAP), providing federal policy and advocacy support to nonprofit, Medicaid health plans (Safety Net Health Plans) related to the ACA Marketplaces as well as Quality & Operations.
Renell Weathers, Michigan League for Public Policy (MLPP) Community Engagement Consultant. As community engagement consultant, Renell works with organizations throughout the state in connecting the impact of budget and tax policies to their communities. She is motivated by the belief that all children and adults deserve the opportunity to achieve their dreams regardless of race, ethnicity, religion or economic class.
Emily Jorgensen joined the Michigan League for Public Policy in July 2019. She deeply cares about the well-being of individuals and families and has a great love for Michigan. She is grateful that her position at the League enables her to combine these passions and work to help promote policies that will lead to better opportunities and security for all Michiganders.
Megan Farnsworth joined the League’s staff in December 2022 as Executive Assistant. Megan is driven by work that is personally fulfilling, and feels honored to help support the work of an organization that pushes for more robust programming and opportunities for the residents of our state. She’s excited and motivated to gain overarching knowledge of the policies and agendas that the League supports.
