LANSING, Mich. (Feb. 9, 2022) — Sen. Rosemary Bayer (D-Beverly Hills) has issued the following statement after Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s Fiscal Year 2023 budget recommendation presented to a joint meeting of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees today, which included a 5% hike in per-pupil funding, significant increases for special education and at-risk students, investments in school infrastructure upgrades, and money to open 40 school-based health clinics to expand mental health screenings for students:
“The past year has been so difficult for our students in and out of the classroom. From school closings due to staff shortages resulting from COVID outbreaks and heartbreaking tragedies, they have been through far too much adversity in their short lives. And while these youths are incredibly resilient, we must ensure that long overdue mental health care is accessible and available to them.
“The governor’s proposal to open health clinics, expand access to mental health screenings, and fund mental health professionals inside schools will go a long way toward ensuring students’ success. I welcome this investment into our educational system, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to ensure a quality education for all Michigan students now and in the future.
“During the past four years, Michigan has been a national leader in promoting educational investment and opportunities for students, and I’m happy to see Gov. Whitmer’s plan for the next Fiscal Year budget is much of the same. Our school systems have been in desperate need of infrastructure upgrades and funding for special education and at-risk students, and this increased per-pupil funding will provide the necessary resources that they need and deserve.”
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