Statement from the Education Trust-Midwest on Governor Whitmer’s FY 2020 Executive Budget Recommendation
ROYAL OAK, Mich. (March 5, 2019) – Earlier today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer released the Fiscal Year 2020 Executive Budget Recommendation. This proposal prioritizes public education by dedicating more than $500 million in additional funding for Michigan schools.
The following statement may be attributed to Amber Arellano, executive director of The Education Trust-Midwest:
“Governor Whitmer’s commitment to investing in underserved students – including students with special needs – is an important step forward for public education in Michigan. Governor Whitmer’s proposed move toward a student funding formula that takes into account students’ need will help address the state’s funding gaps for vulnerable students, and better equip Michigan’s high-poverty schools to meet the needs of their students.
“Proposing to increase base funding by $120 – $180 per pupil, while also proposing to significantly increase funding for students with disabilities and students from low-income families, reflects the reality that Michigan schools need more dollars to support the education of students with the greatest needs.
“In addition to funding improvements, Michigan needs to move toward improvement-focused practices and policies that are based on evidence to dramatically improve student learning. We are committed to continuing to work with leaders on both sides of the aisle to support Michigan’s adoption and implementation of the highest-leverage policies and practices for improving outcomes for all students.”
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The Education Trust-Midwest is a nonpartisan research and advocacy organization dedicated to improving outcomes for all Michigan students, especially for African American, Latino, American Indian, and low-income students. The Education Trust-Midwest believes in the power of intelligent education policy and practices — informed by data, research, and the successes of other states — to make Michigan a top ten education state for all students.
