In a State of the State speech like no other – following a year of historic events, unprecedented challenges, and difficult choices – Gov. Gretchen Whitmer vowed on Wednesday evening to put  forth an education budget in coming weeks that addresses the fallout.

“I want to say thank you—thank you to our incredible educators, administrators, and support staff for their dedication to our students through this pandemic,” she said, touting a grant program for teachers and support staff providing one-time payments next month for service during the pandemic.

Throughout her annual address, Whitmer called for bipartisan cooperation to bring an end to the pandemic and help Michigan schools, businesses, workers, and residents rebound from a devastating health crisis responsible for the deaths of more than 15,000 people in the state.

“Let’s make good use of this non-election year and work together,” she said. “After all, we’re Michiganders first… While common ground seems less and less common these days, it’s never been more important that we work toward it.”

Last year, a bipartisan budget agreement “protected our kids from school cuts and took another step towards a weighted funding formula,” Whitmer said.

Meanwhile, COVID exposed “deep inequities in our education system,” she went on. “Many students and educators in rural or low-income communities lack the technology access fundamental for remote learning.

“That’s why my budget proposal next month will continue building upon the weighted funding formula.”

MEA President Paula Herbart praised the governor’s commitment to investing in education to meet the diverse needs of students by addressing the fact that not every student costs the same to educate.

“Weighted funding for student populations like at-risk, special education, and English language learners is essential to ensuring we have both equity and adequacy in education funding,” Herbart said.

In her third State of the State speech, livestreamed and carried on radio and television stations, Whitmer noted the virtual format was “different because it has to be.” Normally, lawmakers and guests crowd the House chamber and gallery for the event.

Along with many aspects of normal life, Whitmer said, “COVID has disrupted our kids’ education.”

She announced a plan to reconvene the Return to Learn Advisory Council which met last summer to develop safety protocols for school buildings to reopen safely. The group will be tasked with providing guidance to policymakers on how to recover going forward.

She also pledged to maintain her support for education in the upcoming state budget process. “My budget will fund academic recovery, school infrastructure improvements, and support for students’ physical and mental health,” Whitmer said.

On that note, in statements released after Whitmer’s address, Herbart called on Michigan’s Republican legislative leaders to stop holding up education funding in an attempt to weaken the administration’s health and safety measures.

The GOP’s “political gamesmanship” with more than a billion dollars in federal COVID relief funding is the subject of an MEA member call to action.

Whitmer also highlighted her Futures for Frontliners and Reconnect initiatives to increase the numbers of working-age adults in the state who have completed post-secondary certificates and degrees.

More than 82,000 frontline workers who served during the pandemic have applied for the Frontliners program, providing access to two years of tuition-free higher education. Many applicants include Education Support Professionals.

“That’s over 82,000 lives that could be changed as a result, 82,000 people who will enhance their skill set and earn higher wages,” she said.

Watch Whitmer’s full State of the State address.