The following statement can be attributed to MEA President & CEO Chandra Madafferi regarding the Legislature’s passage of the 2025-26 education budget:

“While overdue and still with areas of concern, the education budget for this school year is finally complete and makes important investments in the success of Michigan’s students and the educators who serve them.

“This budget significantly increases per pupil funding, plus providing more resources to equitably meet the unique needs of at-risk students in poverty, special education students, English language learners and more. It continues funding for essential programs like free school meals, student safety and mental health, and recruiting and retaining great educators for every Michigan student.

“Most critically, it provides $200 million in funding to directly put money in the paychecks of public school employees – whose pay increases are being consumed by skyrocketing out-of-pocket health insurance costs.

“We remain concerned about the long-term implications of shifting higher education costs to the School Aid Fund to free up General Fund money for roads, as well as cuts to state support for district payments into the educator retirement system.  Although this budget compromise does not include all of our priorities, we welcome that it provides much-needed support and certainty for PreK-12 schools and higher education institutions to meet the needs of Michigan students.”