LANSING, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – Districts in the Michigan will be getting an additional $458 per student for the coming school year, under the fiscal 2024 budget signed by Governor Gretchen Whitmer Thursday.
The increase pushes the total to $9,608 per-pupil. Whitmer says per-pupil funding is up 22% since she took office.
Other highlights of the budget include:
**A $450 million deposit into a new rainy day fund for schools, $370 million to support teachers, including continued support for the MI Future Educator Fellowship, which provides a tuition free path for college students to become certified teachers, as well as funds to retain and develop existing teachers through mentoring programs
**$328 million for mental health and school safety
**$254.6 million to expand free pre-K for up to 5,600 kids
**A $204.5 million increase, for a total of $952 million, in funding for academically at-risk, economically disadvantaged students
**$160 million to provide all 1.4 million public school students free breakfast and lunch
At the signing ceremony, Whitmer said, “This budget puts students first and supports parents by expanding access to free pre-K, providing free breakfast and lunch to all public school students, and improving higher education. Additionally, the budget makes Michigan one of the lowest-cost states to become a teacher, with tuition-free training, student loan repayment, and stipends for those who are completing their student teaching.”
