Gov. Gretchen Whitmer ceremonially signed the Michigan state education budget at Flint’s Potter Elementary School, impacting schools from pre-K to college.
FLINT, Mich. (WJRT) – Gov. Gretchen Whitmer ceremonially signed the Michigan state education budget at Flint’s Potter Elementary School, impacting schools from pre-K to college.
A total of $24.1 billion is being invested in Michigan’s education budget. Whitmer was surrounded by elementary students as she publicly signed the budget.
“This budget invests more than $10,000 per pupil into the classrooms to help lower class sizes and make sure teachers have what they need to teach and kids have what they need to learn,” said state budget director Jen Flood.
Flood highlighted the budget’s guarantee of universal pre-K. The budget includes $657 million to expand free pre-kindergarten statewide.
“It guarantees universal pre-K, so every four-year-old can get a high-quality education, and free school meals. Every student K through 12 has access to breakfast and lunch every day,” Flood said.
The budget allocates $248.1 million to continue universal school meals, reaching 1.4 million public school students. I spoke with Claudia Perkins, a Flint board of education trustee, at the ceremony, who emphasized the importance of meals in education.
“When the children don’t have rumbling and grumbling stomachs from being hungry, they can focus better and get their lessons out,” Perkins said.
Perkins pointed out that the budget addresses statewide concerns about the potential loss of funding for free meal programs.
“The governor has kind of cleaned that up…children will be served breakfast and lunch, and Michigan won’t miss a beat,” Perkins said.
The new budget also aims to enhance opportunities for higher education and skilled trades through initiatives like free community college, scholarships and funding to keep tuition affordable.
$380 million is being allocated to the Michigan Achievement Scholarship, which is designed to help recent high school graduates in Michigan get financial support for continuing education.
“We know investing in young people will pay dividends into the future, and we want to make sure that every kid has a chance to reach their full potential,” Flood said.
$1.8 billion is being set aside for university operations across Michigan’s 15 public universities to help control tuition costs. Furthermore, $375 million is going to Michigan’s 28 community colleges.
Whitmer’s communications division published a press release with the full list of education fund allocations.