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.
Statement by The Education Trust-Midwest on the budget proposal from the Senate Pre-K-12 Appropriations Subcommittee
The statement can be attributed to Amber Arellano, executive director of The Education Trust-Midwest.“We applaud Sen. Darrin Camilleri and fellow policymakers …
Equity-Centered Coalition calls on state to double funding in the FY’24 budget for students who qualify for “at-risk” funding and vastly increase funding for English Learners and students with disabilities to support their additional needs
(February 28, 2023) – Michigan should double the funding for students who qualify for at-risk funding in the state’s 2023-24 budget, while providing far greate…
Testimony before the Senate PreK-12 Appropriations Subcommittee on Fair Funding
Michigan Partnership for Equity and Opportunity Testimony before the Senate PreK-12 Appropriations SubcommitteeGood afternoon members of the Appropriations Sub…
Statement from The Education Trust-Midwest on Gov. Whitmer’s 2023-24 budget proposal
The Education Trust-Midwest is pleased that Gov. Whitmer’s 2023-24 budget proposes to address Michigan students’ unfinished learning and pandemic educational r…
Statement by The Education Trust-Midwest on Gov. Whitmer’s 2023 State of the State Address
This statement can be attributed to Amber Arellano, executive director of The Education Trust-Midwest. “We applaud Gov. Whitmer’s focus on investing in the ex…
2023 State of Michigan Education Report: Beyond the Pandemic
In every classroom across our great state – from Monroe to Manistee and Mt. Pleasant to Marquette – every Michigan student deserves access and opportunity to t…
Making progress toward equitable funding for underserved students will necessitate big strides
By Amber Arellano, Executive Director, The Education Trust-MidwestWhen it comes to improving education in Michigan, we have such a long way to go toward creati…
REPORT: Michigan Vastly Underfunds Vulnerable Students Compared to Leading States
New bipartisan coalition calls on state leaders to implement equitable funding strategies, eliminate automatic budget cuts to funding for students from low-inc…
Statement by Amber Arellano, executive director of the Education Trust-Midwest, on the passage of School Aid budget for fiscal year 2021-22.
“We have been pleased in the last few weeks to see elected leaders from both sides of the aisle put aside their political differences to craft a budget for Mic…
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 …
The Education Trust-Midwest’s statement on the MI COVID Recovery Plan
The statement below may be attributed to Amber Arellano, executive director, The Education Trust-Midwest“We applaud Governor’s Whitmer’s proposal to invest mor…
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…
Bridge Michigan Opinion | Michigan’s leaders can act now to mitigate learning losses
As Michigan looks to turn the page on one of the most troubled years in recent memory, a bright spot is emerging as the governor and legislative leaders have e…
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…
Community Leaders Issue Statement Calling for More Funding Equity Following Signing of School Aid Budget
The following civil rights, civic and business leaders have joined together to issue the statement below upon Gov. Whitmer’s signing of the School Aid Budget f…
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…
