Michigan is now in the bottom five states nationwide for equitable school funding. Our report, Michigan’s School Funding: Crisis and Opportunity, shows how the state’s K-12 education funding system is neither adequate nor equitable – with the hardest burden falling on students with special needs, from low-income families, new English speakers and students in isolated rural schools.
Not only is an investment in our children the right thing to do, but it is also the smart thing to do.
If Michigan’s current K-12 students had educational achievement at the national average, their lifetime earnings could increase by an estimated $27 billion, according to leading research.
Our children deserve better. Our employers are demanding better. Other states are doing better. For the sake of our children and our economy, we need to transition to a system of school funding that is fair and equitable. Read more below to learn more.
Heard on WDET: Amber Arellano talks about strategies to help Michigan students catch up as many return to school
As many students returned to their classrooms on Monday for the first time since the start of the pandemic, Education Trust-Midwest Executive Director Amber Ar…
Rebuilding Equitably: Overcoming Educational Inequity through Michigan’s Budget
The past year has demonstrated the fragility of Michigan’s public education system and longstanding inequities, amid the rapidly evolving global pandemic. One …
December 2020 Federal COVID-19 Relief and Year End Funding Package
Jan 14, 2020 by Riley Stone and Tabitha BentleyThe federal government passed a funding package late in December 2020. One part of that package was anothe…
Amid COVID-19, millions of students may have stopped attending school
Interrupted learning may have dire consequences for student learning, especially for the most underserved students.When schools closed in March amid the COVID-…
Equity Edition: We need you! Join the Opportunity for All campaign!
The team at the Education Trust-Midwest has been hard at work advancing priorities for the coming fiscal year centered on investing in students and establishin…
Equity Edition: Michigan’s School Funding System Leads to Gaps in Opportunity
Policy changes can lead to a fairer school funding system Michigan is one of the most inequitable states for school funding, leading to profound opportunity an…
Statement from the Education Trust-Midwest on Bipartisan Budget Maintaining Per-Pupil Funding and Including a One-Time Per-Student Increase
More must be done in future budget cycles to address structural inequities and meet the needs of at-risk students, students with disabilities, English learners…
Equity Edition: Bipartisan Budget Maintains Per-Pupil Funding and Includes One-Time Per-Student Increase
More must be done in future budget cycles to address structural inequities and meet the needs of at-risk students, students with disabilities, English learners…
Statement by The Education Trust-Midwest on Emerging School Aid Budget Framework
The following statement may be attributed to Amber Arellano, executive director of The Education Trust-Midwest.“The emerging School Aid Budget framework …
The Equity Edition: School Aid Fund Revenue Estimate and Equitable Funding Coverage
New projections for the budget year beginning on October 1 confirm that the state will have significant shortfalls, even as estimates have improved since May. …
Statement from The Education Trust-Midwest on School Aid Fund Revenue Estimate
ROYAL OAK, Mich. (Aug. 24, 2020) ― The following statement may be attributed to Amber Arellano, executive director of The Education Trust-Midwest."State budget…
The time is now to equitably invest in Michigan’s students
By Jennifer MrozowskiAs the conversation intensifies in Michigan and nationally on how to plug budget shortfalls due to the COVID-19 economic crisis, it’s crit…
The Equity Edition: A call for prioritizing public education and equitable budget strategies
In a new analysis, ETM unveils equitable funding options to shield vulnerable students amid projected budget shortfalls By Jennifer MrozowskiAt a time of great…
Ed Trust-Midwest Joins Business, Civil Rights and Civic Leaders in a Campaign Calling on Leaders to Invest in Michigan’s Students, Adopt Fairer School Funding
(July 28, 2020) – At a time of great inequality of opportunity deepened by the COVID-19 crisis, The Education Trust-Midwest and a broad cross-section of busine…
Modeling: Fair Funding Scale
The Education Trust-Midwest (ETM), in partnership with The Education Trust, conducted extensive modeling to identify more equitable formulas that could replace…
The Equity Edition: Equity centered plans to support vulnerable students
Resources can help district and school leadership teams, community leaders and advocates prepare equity-centered plans to support vulnerable studentsBy Jennife…
Underinvestment and inequality place Michigan near bottom
by Jen MrozowskiMichiganders must address decades-long underinvestment in education and opportunity gaps disproportionately impacting the state's most vulnerab…
Budget decisions must prioritize equity amid pandemic shortfalls
As state leaders weigh potentially devastating budget shortfalls due to the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting economic shutdown, equitable funding for education …
Fair funding for schools, financial aid for students and calling future colleagues.
Nearly 400 messages have been sent by Michiganders to the Governor and legislative leaders, urging Michigan to prioritize fairness in opportunity and equity in…
