Education Funding Updates

Overview of FY27 Whitmer Budget Recommendations

The 2026-27 budget season officially started on Wednesday, Feb. 11, with the presentation of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s eighth and final budget recommendation to the Legislature. MEA’s initial analysis follows—be aware that there’s more review to come, and that this is only the first step in the process. Both the Senate and House will make their own recommendations and negotiate a…

February 17, 2026

Private: Libraries and literacy go hand-in-hand

The decline in literacy test scores in Michigan over the past few decades parallels the dramatic loss of certified school librarians across the state, say two MEA members who also lead the Michigan Association of School Librarians (MASL). Librarians are literacy leaders with expertise in book collection development, information literacy instruction, and defending intellectual freedom, said MEA member Christine Beachler,…

February 17, 2026February 17, 2026

Private: A case study in Waterford

Waterford Education Association President Mary Craite has been teaching for 40 years. After completing the literacy training known as LETRS — which stands for Language Essentials for Teaching Reading and Spelling — she’s ready to teach another 40. “LETRS is among the best professional development that I’ve had in my career,” Craite said. The learning in LETRS provided “missing pieces”…

February 17, 2026February 17, 2026