KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed the School Aid Budget for Fiscal Year 2027 this week, and that means more support for student literacy and assurances that at-risk kids will continue to get assistance.
At a time when the federal government is taking a cleaver to programs that help historically underserved youth, the state budget goes in the other direction.
State Representative Julie Rogers told Kalamazoo Public Schools trustees Thursday night that it not only passed, but so did legislation to make funding for at-risk programs part of the annual budget.
“Senate Bill 903 passed alongside the budget which puts this permanently in statute, to have at-risk funding so that was a huge win that I was proud to vote for.”
In addition, Rogers says it also sets funding aside for food programs.
“The budget provides $200 million so that you can provide free breakfast and lunch to all of our students. That represents a savings for parents of $1000 per child, per year, which in these costly times I think is really important.”
The $22.9 billion school aid fund also increased the foundation grant for each student by $250 and additional funding was set aside for literacy programs.
“More than $500 million is dedicated to helping students across the state be strong readers, for high impact tutoring, before and after school programs and summer programming,” says Rogers.
The budget process and negotiations over the school aid bill were much smoother this year than last, with many state Senators and Representatives facing reelection, and anxious to avoid the budget impasses that resulted in missing the budget deadline last year.
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