Michigan Governor Whitmer signs $23 billion education budget despite funding concerns

(CBS) – Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed a $23 billion education budget for fiscal year 2025 on Tuesday, despite opposition from education groups to some of the funding.

Officials said the budget, which takes effect on October 1, 2024, set a new record for investment in K-12 education, including guaranteed tuition for high school graduates who attend community college.

The budget includes more than $400 per student (an additional $600 million), $134 million for student mental health and school safety, $200 million to support free breakfast and lunch for students, and $130 million to further expand free preschool for every four-year-old child.

The budget also includes a 2.5% grant for universities and community colleges and $30 million to increase funding for the Michigan Achievement Scholarship.

“This balanced education budget – my sixth – includes record-breaking investments to support our students, invest in our schools and strengthen our educators,” Whitmer said in a statement. “With free preschool for all, record funding for students, free school meals, on-campus mental health resources and free community college for every high school graduate, this budget will improve outcomes, reduce costs and strengthen our education system.”

But education groups have raised concerns about the state’s failure to increase districts’ per-pupil funding in more than a decade and about cuts to funding for student mental health. Last year’s budget allocated $328 million for mental health and school safety.

The education budget is part of the Total state budget of $83 billionthat lawmakers approved last month. Approval came after a 19-hour session marked by disagreements between Democrats and school groups.

Democratic lawmakers stressed that there will be savings in other areas, particularly through a reduction in the pension contribution rate. These savings are estimated at $598 million.

State School Superintendent Michael Rice praised the state for providing financial support to at-risk students, rural districts and English learners, but said cutting mental health funding would “slow Michigan’s recent momentum in addressing student mental health issues.”

“While we knew the budget could not reach the final two due to the end of federal pandemic funding and a flattening of state revenue growth, the sharp decline in funding for support for students with mental health issues is disappointing,” Rice said. “We will continue to work with the governor, state legislature, educators, educational organization partners and others to address the funding and staffing issues and improve the education of Michigan’s children.”