Michigan’s K-12 schools can expect a big spending boost as they prepare to welcome students back to classrooms.
The Legislature adopted a spending bill today that guarantees districts at least $8700 per student.Democrats and Republicans cheered the bill as an example of bipartisan cooperation that finally closed a gap between districts in per-student spending. The Legislature did not meet a self-imposed July 1st deadline for wrapping up the entire budget.
But Republican Senator Jim Stamas, who chairs the Senate Appropriations Committee, said schools now know what they’re working with.
“The other parts can come later and we can continue to work those out,” Stamas said.
The Legislature is now on a two-week recess with a to-do list upon its return that includes finishing budgets for revenue sharing with local governments, public health, community colleges and state universities.