Dear Neighbor,
As Senate Appropriations Chair, I’m honored to serve as the principal budget negotiator in the state Senate. This responsibility allows me to champion an equitable, student-focused education budget that serves kids throughout the entire state.
In this newsletter, we will provide a detailed breakdown of the recently passed education budget, which delivers historic investments in K-12 education and strengthens pathways for every Michigander to pursue the degree or credential they need after high school. Read on for more information about how this budget provides for students, educators, and administrators throughout Mid-Michigan and in every corner of our state.
If you or someone you know would like to provide any feedback about what’s happening in Lansing, or if you need assistance of any sort, please connect with my office. You can contact me by sending an email to SenSAnthony@senate.michigan.gov or by calling (517) 373-6960.
In Service,
Sarah Anthony
State Senator
District 21
Here’s a brief overview of just some of what we’ve secured in the state education budget this year:
- More Dollars Directly in the Classroom – Includes increases in key categories that ensure students and educators have the resources and support they need to thrive.
- Wraparound Student Supports – Invests in holistic, wraparound supports for students to ensure that every child has access to nutritious food, healthcare, and extracurricular opportunities.
- Improving Outcomes – Adds additional accountability metrics to ensure our education system is effective, efficient, and accessible.
- Investing in Educators – Invests in the teacher pipeline to ensure we can attract and retain the highest quality teachers here in Michigan.
- Universities and Community Colleges – Builds on our investment in the pre-K-college pipeline by protecting and increasing funding for higher education.
More Dollars Directly in the Classroom
Our budget ensures that the money meant for schools goes directly to the classroom where it belongs. The budget includes increases in key categories that ensure students and educators have the resources and support they need to thrive.
Over my three years as Appropriations Chair, I have worked hard to bring an equity lens to the state budget process, ensuring we invest in populations that have too often been overlooked and ignored. In the education budget, that means ensuring our funding formulas are equitable and uplift rural, urban, and underserved communities, as well as the highest-performing suburban districts.
- Foundation Allowance Increase: A 4.6% boost brings the per-pupil funding to a record $10,050 per student.
- Universal Pre-K Expansion: Removal of income eligibility requirements for Great Start Readiness, building on our goal of universal pre-K for every Michigan family.
- Support for At-risk Students: a 25% increase in funding.
- Weighted Funding Increases: 4.6% for intermediate school district general operations, $2.2 million for career and technical education, and $566,200 for rural and isolated districts.
- English Language Learners: 25% funding increase.
- Special Education: Increased foundation payment to better support students with special needs.
Sen. Sarah Anthony helps serve free lunch to Lansing students.
Wraparound Student Supports
We know that student success goes beyond the classroom. This budget invests in holistic, wraparound supports for students to ensure that every child has access to nutritious food, healthcare, and extracurricular opportunities.
- Free School Meals Program: Continued funding helps students learn without being distracted by hunger and saves families an average of $850 per year.
- School-Based Health Centers: Maintained funding for essential health care facilities in our schools, removing barriers to care for families.
- School Safety and Mental Health: Over $250 million in investments to modernize security systems and hire more mental health professionals, including counselors, social workers, and certified school resource officers.
- Before and After School Programming: $50 million to support enrichment, career exploration, youth development, and other critical extracurricular programming for kids.
- Community Violence Intervention: $10 million in CVI grants, recognizing that community-driven, prevention-based practices are key to ensuring young people stay on the right track.
- Transportation Fund: $125 million to ensure easy access to school.
- Support for Our Home District: $2.5 million for Lansing School District to make critical infrastructure improvements and expand youth development programming.
Countless programs in our region benefit from before– and after-school programming funding, including Woldumar Nature Center, YMCA Capital Region, and Eaton Rapids Teen Space.
Improving Outcomes
The state education budget is so much more than just numbers on a page; it’s an investment in the next generation of Michiganders. I’m committed to making sure our kids are set up for success. That’s why we’ve included additional accountability metrics to ensure our education system is effective, efficient, and accessible.
- Literacy Supports: $70 million to strengthen reading instruction based on the science of reading.
- Smaller Class Sizes: $65 million to drive smaller class sizes and create better learning environments for students and teachers.
- Career and Technical Education (CTE) Investments: $70 million over three years for career and technical education programs in underserved “CTE deserts.”
- School Libraries: $250,000 for statewide study to improve library resources.
Sen. Sarah Anthony visits students at Post Oak Elementary.
Investing in Educators
Our schools thrive because of dedicated educators and staff. This budget invests in the teacher pipeline to ensure we can attract and retain the highest quality teachers here in Michigan. We’ve made significant investments to ensure districts have the financial resources they need to support high-quality staff and maintain essential programming for student success.
- Educator Healthcare Supports: $147 million to offset rising costs for educators
- Teacher Pay: $200 million to increase educator pay.
- Grow Your Own Programs: $70 million to develop future teachers and strengthen the teacher pipeline in Michigan.
- Infrastructure Grants: $100 million to modernize education facilities and upgrade outdated school buildings to create healthier, safer, and more modern learning environments for Michigan students.
Sen. Sarah Anthony stands with teachers to call for additional resources and funding.
Universities and Community Colleges
Higher education is essential for Michigan’s workforce. I am proud we were able to build on our investment in the pre-K-college pipeline by protecting and increasing funding for higher education. This budget builds on the progress we’ve made in the last three years to ensure everyone has access to an affordable, high-quality degree or credential.
- Michigan Achievement and Skills Scholarships: Continued funding for these essential programs guarantees every Michigander two years of college free.
- MI Reconnect: Ongoing support for adult learners.
- Tuition Restraint: Requirements to prevent unreasonable tuition increases.
- Operations Increase: 3% one-time operations increase for community colleges and universities, including those right down the road, like Lansing Community College, Michigan State University, and the University of Olivet.
- Support for DEI: Removal of problematic funding criteria prohibiting diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, keeping our state welcoming and inclusive.
- FAFSA Completion Funding: $10 million to help more students access financial aid.
Sen. Sarah Anthony holds hearing on bills to codify Michigan Achievement and Skills scholarship into law.