EdTrust-Midwest Lauds Governor Whitmer’s Proposed Investments in Education in her FY 27 Executive Budget but Urges Policymakers to Increase Support for Underserved Students in Final Budget

Governor Whitmer’s executive budget released today includes several proposals aimed at supporting Michigan’s most underserved students, particularly through funding to address Michigan’s literacy crisis, tutoring support, expanded access to tuition-free college scholarships and dual enrollment, and additional dollars for students from low-income backgrounds and English Learners. EdTrust-Midwest lauds her strong support for public education, while urging policymakers to invest more for students with the greatest needs.  

“We applaud Governor Whitmer’s ongoing commitment to invest more in our public schools, which are essential to ensuring students across Michigan have the opportunity to reach their full academic potential,” said Jennifer Mrozowski, senior director for strategic communications and external relations at EdTrust-Midwest.  

“At a crucial moment in our nation’s history, when public education is under attack, these state investments are more critical than ever,” Mrozowski said. “At the same time, we know that Michigan’s students who have long been underserved — students from low-income backgrounds, students of color, English learners and students with disabilities — need additional support. This proposed budget is a good first step, but these students will require significantly greater investments to truly meet their needs.” 

The governor’s $88.1 billion budget, which also calls for raising taxes and tapping the rainy day fund to offset some costs, includes $20.3 billion for K-12 schools. Overall, K-12 schools’ base per-pupil funding would rise 2.5% — raising base per-pupil funding to $10,300, providing an additional $250 per student, up 31% since Governor Whitmer took office.  

Funding to support students from low-income backgrounds under the Opportunity Index and English learners each increased by 6% — from $1.29 billion to $1.37 billion for students from low-income backgrounds and from $62.7 million to $66.5 million for English learners. The governor’s recommendations continue to fully fund the foundation allowance for special education in addition to required cost reimbursements for special education students.   Notably, it follows recommendations in the Michigan Blueprint for Special Education Finance Reform, including creation of a weighted funding formula for students with disabilities beginning in fiscal year 2028. EdTrust-Midwest and partners have long been strong advocates for investing more in students with the greatest needs. 

Governor Whitmer’s budget also calls for investing $625 million in a variety of programs aimed at addressing the state’s K-12 literacy crisis, from PreK through high school. She also recommends $50 million to support districts’ efforts to provide tutoring to help students catch up and accelerate. Her budget also significantly increases funding to train teachers in the science of reading. It provides $50 million over five years for LETRS training and an increase of $10.5 million for reading coaches.  

EdTrust-Midwest and partners also have long called for the state to prioritize improvements in reading outcomes through research-backed strategies and investment based on the science of reading. That advocacy culminated in bipartisan passage of the Reading for All law in 2024, designed to address one of the most common barriers to reading: dyslexia. 

“Widespread support for efforts to improve early literacy are needed more than ever as Michigan’s students continue to lag the nation in reading,” Mrozowski said. “Investments in research-backed practices based in the science of reading are particularly important in districts that serve high concentrations of poverty, students of color, English learners and students with disabilities.  

“Literacy achievements come about through a fierce commitment to these practices. They are proof that all students, of every race, family background, and zip code, can read when they have access to the proper resources. Now is a moment for action.”  

An analysis of assessment data by EdTrust-Midwest showed that students who are underserved continued to perform below their wealthier peers on the 2024-25 M-STEP, contributing to longstanding opportunity gaps in education. More than half of third grade students (55.7%) from higher-income backgrounds scored proficient or advanced in reading, while only 25.7% of students from low-income backgrounds scored proficient or advanced.  

EdTrust-Midwest’s analysis of the M-STEP data also revealed deeper opportunity gaps, with Black and Latino students, as well as English learners and students with disabilities, scoring lower than the state average on the third grade reading assessment.  

Research demonstrates that reading proficiency in early grades is essential to improving education overall. Students who read well by third grade have a better chance of succeeding in school, are far more likely to go to college, participate in the job market, and have greater lifetime employment earnings.  

As policymakers continue their budget deliberations, EdTrust-Midwest and partners with the Michigan Partnership for Equity and Opportunity urge policymakers to: 

• Invest an additional $400 million into the Opportunity Index over FY 26 to provide students from low-income backgrounds with the resources they need to succeed. 

• Double the amount of funding from FY 26 for English Learners for a total of $125 million.  

• Begin implementing the recommendations in the Michigan Special Education Finance Reform Blueprint, including creating a new weighted funding formula based on student needs.  

• Increase funding for teacher professional development and grants to local districts to purchase high quality curriculum based in the science of reading. 

• Protect funding to help rural districts with their transportation costs. 

• Increase accountability and transparency including requiring at least 75 percent of the weighted funding to be spent at the building where the intended student attends.