LANSING – Speaker Andy Dillon (D-Redford Twp.) today led the House of Representatives in passing a plan that will restore $184 million in funding to schools and help ease deep cuts to education that could impair Michigan's ability to prepare children for 21st century jobs. House Democrats also voted to move the state's School Aid Budget deadline to June 1 in order to prevent the type of budget chaos that ensued when a budget accord was not reached by Oct. 1 this year.
"Education must be a top priority so we can prepare our kids to compete for 21st century jobs and create a talented workforce that will attract those jobs," Dillon said. "With Michigan's economy still struggling, this is the worst possible time to shortchange the education of our future workers. The students of today are Michigan's doctors, engineers, craftsmen and entrepreneurs of tomorrow – but only if we give them the training and skills they need. Restoring this funding will ease some of the pain our schools are feeling from this extreme economic crisis, and help them do the best job possible of educating our children."
The plan passed by the House today will leverage $184 million in federal funding, reducing the per-pupil cuts that were imposed on Michigan schools last month. In addition, the House voted to move the Legislature's deadline to complete the School Aid Budget from Oct. 1 to June 1. This change will better allow Michigan schools to plan for their school year before it begins, rather then waiting until it has already begun.
The plan also makes it a priority to provide an additional $25.7 million for Michigan's 20j schools and $25.7 million for under-funded schools. Funding would come from the Michigan Future Fund once revenue is identified. Local 20j districts that would benefit are Livonia Public Schools, Dearborn City School District and Clarenceville School District. Redford Union School District would receive additional money because it is under-funded.
"Clearly, we have to find long-term solutions for funding Michigan's schools; we need structural reforms so we can escape this cycle that hurts our kids most of all," Dillon said. "In the meantime, though, we can't abandon a whole generation of kids who need and deserve a good education. We all need to work together to provide proper funding for K-12 education, because it's vital to Michigan's economic turnaround."