As the Michigan Legislature continues to craft the 2019 state budget, the League is advocating for investments that can increase educational equity and help children build the foundation for economic success, including state funding for early intervention, services to improve early literacy, greater support for students in high-poverty schools, and significant expansions early education and care.
The Michigan Senate and House of Representatives have approved separate versions of the 2019 School Aid and Department of Education budgets. Following the May 16 convening of fiscal experts and economists to determine expected revenues for next year, the differences between the House and Senate budgets will be worked out in joint conference committees.
A high-quality education is a vital path to equity for children in Michigan, yet children of color and children from families with low incomes face barriers throughout the educational system—from cradle to career. The state budget can be a potent tool for improving equity, but the effort must be intentional, comprehensive and sustained.
State budgets are not “colorblind”—even if their disproportionate impact is unintended. As a first step, the League urges lawmakers to incorporate an analysis of the racial, ethnic and social justice impact of budget options and recommendations in their budget deliberations.
K-12 SCHOOL AID
Per-Pupil Spending
Governor:
- The governor recommended an additional $312 million to increase the per-pupil allowance to public schools by between $120 and $240—bringing the minimum School Aid payment to $7,871 per student and the maximum to $8,409.
- The governor also recommended $11 million to continue the current $25 payment for students in grades 9-12 in recognition of the higher costs of the high school curriculum, and provided additional payments of up to $50 per pupil for high school students engaged in training in high-demand fields.
- Funding for the increases came in part from cuts in reimbursements for cyberschools ($25 million) and for “shared-time” educational programs provided to non-public schools and home-schooled children (a cut of $68 million).
Senate:
- The Senate increased the per-pupil payment from between $115 and $230, with higher amounts going to districts with lower per-pupil funds currently—at a total cost of $299 million. In addition, the Senate put $400 million in state funding—which would have gone to school districts that have partnership agreements with the state to improve outcomes for children—into a new categorical fund that would be available only if those districts meet certain criteria in their partnership agreements at 18 and 36 months. After that period, districts would face closure or restructuring through a school-building level Board and the cancellation of bargaining agreements.
- The Senate agreed with the governor to retain the $25 per pupil payment for high school students, but rejected the governor’s plan to provide incentive payments to districts for students in career and technical education programs geared to high-demand fields.
- The Senate rejected most of the governor’s shared-time cuts for nonpublic and homeschooled children, and continued current funding for cyberschools.
House:
- The House agreed with the governor’s recommendation for per-pupil increases of between $120 and $240 at a cost of $312 million.
- The House agreed with the governor to retain the $25 per pupil payment for high school students, but rejected the governor’s proposal to provide incentive payments for schools that enroll students in career and technical education programs—particularly for high demand jobs and skills.
- The House rejects the governor’s cuts in both shared-time services and cyberschools.
Funding for Students Academically at Risk
- Governor: The governor maintained At-Risk School Aid funding at its current level of $499 million. Despite increases in the last two budget years, funding for At-Risk payments remains below the statutory level, leaving many schools in high-poverty communities struggling to reduce educational inequities. Currently, At-Risk funding must be used to ensure that: (1) third grade students are reading proficiently; and (2) high school graduates are career and college ready. Among the changes proposed by the governor was language requiring schools to address both literacy and numeracy, as well as a requirement that districts implement culturally and linguistically responsive teaching strategies for English language learners. Funding for adolescent health care services ($6.1 million) and hearing/vision screenings ($5.2 million) was retained.
- Senate: The Senate agreed with the governor on level funding for the At-Risk program, but rejected the changes in budget language, including the requirement for culturally responsive teaching for English language learners. Funding for adolescent health care services and hearing/vision screenings was retained.
- House: The House also provided continuation funding for the At-Risk program and changed budget language, but rejected the requirement for teaching English language learners. Funding for adolescent health care services and hearing/vision screenings was retained.
Early Intervention
- Governor: The governor provided $5 million in new state funding for the state’s early intervention program, the Early On program. Early On identifies and serves infants and toddlers with developmental delays, but the lack of state funding has resulted in an inability to provide comprehensive services to all children who are identified as needing intervention. The governor recommended that the new state funds be used for pilot projects through competitive grants.
- Senate: The Senate agreed with the governor on $5 million for Early On, but recommended that the funds to be given to each Intermediate School District (ISD) based on their current federal funding allocations.
- House: The House agreed with the Senate on Early On spending and the statewide allocation formula.
Early Literacy
- Governor: For 2019, the governor cut $2.5 million in state General Fund by ending state support for the Michigan Education Corps. Total School Aid funding remains at $26.9 million, with funds to be used for professional development for teachers, diagnostic tools, early literacy coaches through ISDs ($6 million), and additional instruction time for pupils in grades K-3 ($20.9 million).
- Senate: The Senate increased funding for the Michigan Education Corps by $500,000 to a total of $3 million. The Senate also provided an additional $1 million for ISD early literacy coaches, reduced funding for additional instruction time by $1 million, and included $550,000 for a new summer reading pilot program.
- House: The House agreed with the governor on early literacy spending and the elimination of funding for the Michigan Education Corps.
School Nutrition
- Governor: The governor removed funding ($375,000) for the 10 Cents a Meal program. The program, which is in three of the state’s Prosperity Regions (Northwest Michigan, West Michigan and Southeast Michigan), provides up to 10 cents for every meal served to support districts that include locally-grown fruits and vegetables in their school lunches. Priority is given to school districts with high percentages of students eligible for free lunches.
- Senate: The Senate increased funding for the 10 Cents a Meal program by $325,000 for total funding of $700,000, and extended the program to two more of the state’s Prosperity Regions (East Michigan and Southwest Michigan).
- House: The House increased funding for the 10 Cents a Meal program by $50,000 to a total of $425,000 to expand the program in Southwest Michigan.
Adult Education
- Governor: The governor provided $27 million for adult education programs in 2019, but removed $500,000 from a pilot project that connected adult education students with employers. A total of $2 million was retained for other pilot projects in five of the state’s Prosperity Regions. State funding for adult education fell from $80 million in 2001 to only $27 million in 2018, and still falls short of the need.
- Senate: The Senate increased adult education by $3.5 million to a total of $30.5 million. New funding is used in part to expand the pilot projects into a statewide program.
- House: The House agreed with the governor on continuation funding of $27 million.
Flint Water Crisis
- Governor: The governor reduced state General Fund dollars in the K-12/School Aid budget for the Flint crisis by $5.5 million, with total funding dropping from $8.7 million to $3.2 million. This reduction is not expected to result in a reduction in services because there are unexpended funds from prior years that are still available. Funds are used for school nurses and social workers as well as early childhood education and nutrition services.
- Senate: The Senate agreed with the governor.
- House: The House agreed with the governor.
EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND CARE
Child Care Subsidies
Following adoption of the 2018 federal budget, Michigan is expecting an additional $65 million annually for child care assistance beginning in the current budget year. While the House did not address the new funds, the Senate included $62.3 million to expand child care services. The League has developed a set of recommendations for improving Michigan’s child care program with the new federal funds.
- Governor: The governor included flat funding for child care subsidies for families with low incomes. Rate increases have been approved in the last several years based on the number of stars a program has in the state’s quality rating system. Currently, the highest child care rate in the state is $5.50 per hour for child care centers with 5 stars; the lowest rates are paid to unlicensed providers—generally family, friends or neighbors—who receive a base rate of $1.60 per hour. The governor also left untouched Michigan’s very low income eligibility threshold—one of the lowest in the country. With such low eligibility levels, the number of families receiving help with high child care expenses has dropped dramatically.
- Senate: The Senate budget recognized new federal Child Care Development Block Grant (CCDBG) funds coming into Michigan by allocating $62.3 million to: 1) implement a biweekly child care provider reimbursement system to replace the current hourly system that has discouraged providers from accepting children with state subsidies (cost of $36.5 million); and 2) increase the entry income eligibility threshold from 130% to 150% of the federal poverty line ($25.8 million). The Senate also included $10.7 million to increase hourly child care provider reimbursement rates—with the largest increases (50 cents per hour) for unlicensed providers or those with fewer than two stars in the state’s quality rating system.
- House: The House concurred with the governor by retaining current year child care provider reimbursement rates and income eligibility guidelines and did not address the new CCDBG funds.
Great Start Readiness Program
- Governor: The governor recommended level funding ($243.6 million) for the Great Start Readiness preschool program (GSRP) that serves 4-year-olds from families with low incomes. The governor also eliminated funding for the Early Learning Collaborative Partnership, a pilot project that is evaluating the impact on children of two years of preschool education by serving 3-year-olds at high risk. While Michigan has greatly expanded its preschool program for 4-year-olds, the state does not yet serve 3-year-olds—an expansion that the League supports.
- Senate: The Senate agreed with the governor on continuation funding for the GSRP, but provided $175,000 to continue the Early Learning Collaborative Partnership.
- House: The House provided continuation funding for the GSRP and also maintained current year funding for the Early Learning Collaborative Partnership.
Early Childhood Block Grant to Intermediate School Districts
- Governor: The governor provided level funding of $13.4 million for early childhood block grants to ISDs. To receive funds, ISDs must support a local Great Start Collaborative and Parent Coalition, and $2.5 million is earmarked statewide for home visits for children and families with high needs. For 2019, the governor removed current budget language requiring that home visiting funds be used in part to reduce the number of students retained at grade level and the need for special education services. In its place is language requiring that funds be used to improve positive parenting practices and family economic self-sufficiency, while reducing the impact of high-risk factors through community resources and referrals.
- Senate: The Senate agreed with the governor on continuation funding.
- House: The House also provided level funding of $13.4 million for the early childhood block grants.
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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.
Jacob Kaplan 
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. 
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.
Donald Stuckey 
Patrick Schaefer
Alexandra Stamm 
Amari Fuller
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.
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.
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.
Amber Bellazaire joined the Michigan League for Public Policy as a policy analyst in June of 2019. Her work primarily focuses on state policy and budgets affecting Michigan’s Medicaid programs. Previously, Amber worked at the National Conference of State Legislatures tracking legislation and research related to injury and violence prevention, adolescent health, and maternal and child health. She also brings with her two years of Americorps service. As a full time volunteer, Amber had the opportunity to tutor high school students in Chelsea, Massachusetts and address issues of healthcare access and food insecurity through in-person outreach in Seattle, Washington.
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.
