LANSING — Michigan Senate Democrats put forward a $21.8 billion dollar education plan Tuesday, proposing tens of millions for school safety, at-risk students and infrastructure projects.
“As lawmakers, we have an obligation to put our residents’ taxpayer dollars to the best use, and I can’t think of a better way to do that than to invest those dollars into the future of our next generation,” said Sen. Dayna Polehanki, (D) District 5, Livonia
The proposal is just over one billion dollars more than last year’s allotment. The plan would increase per-student funding from $9,600 to just over $10,000. Half of that — about $250 million — would go toward wage increases for teachers.
The plan includes $1.3 billion for at-risk students, $400 million of which districts could put toward reducing class sizes.
“Our education budget supports smaller class sizes so that our students can receive individualized instruction for their unique needs,” Polehanki said. “This extra funding will help our teachers better serve our students and better manage their classrooms.”
The proposal also includes $50 million for Career and Technical Education expansion and $35 million in incentives for CTE students.
Gretchen Spedowske, assistant superintendent for Wexford-Missaukee ISD’s CTE programs, says the training teaches skills that can benefit students and businesses alike.
“We offer the skills that the students need to fill our workforce, and it not only teaches them skills, it also teaches them college credit they can receive, as well as life skills,” she said. “It helps out the workforce. A lot of our work-based learning students are getting hired right out of high school, and then the business can also help with some of the funding to finish their education.”
The proposal may need to be watered down before gaining support from Republicans, who control the state House.
Rep. Ann Bollin, chair of the House Appropriations Committee, said in a statement that she is “committed to a thorough, line-by-line review of every dollar to ensure we are maximizing outcomes for students and using taxpayer money wisely to support classrooms, educators, and families across Michigan.”
Lawmakers say they plan on finalizing the state budget and more than $60 billion in additional spending by the Fourth of July.