LANSING, Mich. — The following is a statement from School Finance Research Collaborative Project Director Robert McCann reacting to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s 2020-2021 budget proposal:
“Gov. Whitmer’s 2020-2021 budget proposal takes significant steps toward a weighted school funding formula as recommended in the School Finance Research Collaborative report, including additional funding for special education services, at-risk students, students living in poverty and English Language Learners. We applaud the governor for her continued support for a new, fairer school funding approach that helps all students succeed, whether they are bound for college, technical school, skilled trades careers or jobs right after high school. Using the Collaborative report as a roadmap, we look forward to working with Gov. Whitmer and lawmakers on both sides of the aisle to adopt a new approach that ensures all students succeed, regardless of income, zip code, learning challenges or other circumstances.”
The School Finance Research Collaborative is a diverse group of business leaders and education experts, from Metro Detroit to the U.P., who agree it’s time to change the way Michigan’s schools are funded.
In 2018, the Collaborative completed Michigan’s first comprehensive school adequacy study that determined the true cost of educating all students to make the way we fund schools more fair. The final Collaborative report provides a base cost for student achievement in Michigan, with additional funding considerations for special education, English Language Learners, Career and Technical Education programs, students living in poverty, preschool, geographic isolation, district size, cost of living differences and student transportation.
###
For media inquiries, contact Christopher Behnan, Byrum & Fisk Communications, at (517) 333-1606, ext. 1