Statement from the K-12 Alliance of Michigan on Passage of 2026-2027 School Aid Budget

After months of little effort, missed deadlines, and leaving schools completely in the dark, the Legislature finally decided to do its job and pass a budget for the upcoming school year. Robert McCann, Executive Director of The K-12 Alliance of Michigan, released the following statement in response: 

“Nothing in this budget justifies it once again being done late. There is little in it focused on supporting Michigan's schools, even as it raids nearly $2 billion from the School Aid Fund to pay for data centers and corporate tax handouts.

The reality is if they were going to pass a budget this weak, they could have at least done it back in May so schools could better plan for the upcoming year. Instead, our students and the educators who serve them were made to wait, not because Lansing was working to get them a better deal, but because our schools were the piggy bank being cracked open once again to cover everyone else's priorities.

I have no doubt Governor Whitmer and legislative leaders will pat themselves on the back and claim they provided schools with ‘record funding,’ but the reality is this legislative malpractice provides below-inflationary funding increases, was turned in late, and plays political games with $1.9 billion in federal money for special education that raises real questions as to whether that money will actually reach our classrooms.

If that’s a budget that they choose to be proud of, then they are the ones that will have to answer for the ongoing problems our schools are facing in providing students with the support they deserve.

Michigan's students deserved better than to be an afterthought in their own budget.”