Last week, the State House passed HB 4411, the K-12 school budget for 2021-22.  At $16.74 billion, it represents the largest ever investment in K-12 public schools in Michigan history. More importantly, it finally closes the gap in the per-pupil foundation allowance that has existed since Proposal A passed in 1994, bringing all districts to $8,700 per pupil (an increase of between $171 and $589 per pupil, depending on the district and the funding formulas used).”

The bill also includes:

• $285 million additional for the Michigan Public School Employees Retirement System, as well as a $560 million deposit into the MPSERS Retirement Obligation Reform Reserve Fund.
• $100 million placed into the School Aid Stabilization Fund.
• $168 million more for the Great Start Readiness Program, bringing that funding up to $8,700 per pupil and helping another 22,000 eligible 4-year-olds access quality pre-school.
• $240 million to help districts hire school nurses, counselors, psychologists, and social workers.
• NOTE: State funding for universities and community colleges were not included in this bill – action is still pending on those budgets.

The House also voted to approve HB 4421, which would distribute more than $4 billion in federal education funds to students and schools from December’s CARES Act and March’s American Rescue Plan – thank you to all who contacted lawmakers using  www.MiSchoolRelief.com to help make that bill a reality.  In addition to those funds, HB 4411 includes “equalization” payments to districts with smaller populations of Title 1 eligible students, ensuring all districts get at least $1,093 per pupil to address pandemic recovery.

The State Senate now must act on HB 4411 – please contact your senator today and urge them to vote this week for this budget as passed by the House so districts can start making important funding decisions for this fall.