EAST LANSING — The Michigan Education Association on Friday praised the education budget agreement reached by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and lawmakers from both parties, and educators are urging state leaders to continue working together to find solutions to the challenges facing our schools.

“The Michigan Education Association praises Gov. Whitmer and legislative leaders for coming together for the sake of our kids, parents and educators and passing this historic investment in public education,” said MEA President Paula Herbart, a veteran teacher from Macomb County. “This budget agreement is a great step forward in helping to address the challenges facing our schools and giving every child an opportunity to succeed.”

The finalized budget includes a $450 increase in per-student funding and an additional $300 million to help children with special needs. The budget also includes funding to help attract new educators to the profession, provide stipends to student teachers, and help education support professionals get the education and training they need to become certified teachers through innovative “grow your own” programs.

As part of the budget agreement, the governor and lawmakers left about $3.5 billion in school funding on the table to be earmarked later.

“We urge lawmakers to maintain the spirit of bipartisanship and work with the governor to use the remaining funds to tackle the most urgent needs facing local schools,” Herbart said. “We must solve the educator shortage and provide incentives to keep good educators on the job, we must address the mental health crisis facing our students, and we must direct extra support to the students who need it most — and we must do it now.”