Opinion: Direct funds to needy students
September 18, 2019
By PAULA HERBART/President – Michigan Education Association
We often hear politicians say, “It’s about the kids,” and, “The students of today are the leaders of tomorrow.” If they truly believe that, they need to craft a state education budget that recognizes a simple fact: Not all students are the same.
Unfortunately, the Republican education budget being considered in Lansing this week fails to recognize that simple fact with another one-size-fits-all spending plan. For every student to get a great education, we must provide funding so that every student gets the support they need.
Aside from falling short of the $500 million preK-12 increase proposed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Republican legislative leaders are not considering her weighted funding formula that directs more resources to the students who need the most help.
