LANSING---Senate Democrats today helped pass a no-cuts School Aid Budget for the 2010-2011 school year that increases per pupil funding by $11. The increase goes into effect immediately and will help schools with their budgets for the rest of 2010 and the duration of 2011. The budget year for most of Michigan’s school districts starts on July 1, so it was important to finalize the state School Aid Budget by this date.

This School Aid Budget is far better than the original $118 per pupil spending cut budget that Senate Republicans originally passed and that Senate Democrats fought hard against. In addition to the per pupil increase, the new budget includes additional funding for school bus inspections, school lunches, and preserves the funding for at-risk and declining enrollments schools.

“Our state has been facing some major economic challenges, but school children in Michigan should not pay the price,” said Senate Democratic Floor Leader Buzz Thomas (D-Detroit). “This per pupil increase will reduce the financial burden on school districts, and is necessary to ensure the success of every student.”

For the first time in several years, the School Aid Budget was passed on time so that school districts would know how much money they have to spend at the start of their fiscal year. In recent years, budget debates have gone well into the fall meaning that schools would start the school year without knowing how much state funding they would actually have.

“The School Aid Budget is not a band-aid for tackling a fiscal crisis—Michigan’s children and their education need to be our priority,” said Senator Gretchen Whitmer (D- East Lansing). “Our economic turnaround will be dependent on having students properly educated and prepared to enter the workforce in the jobs of tomorrow.”

Senate Democrats believe that a good solid education is our best hope for the future of our state and Michigan families. They will continue fighting to increase funding for Michigan schools so that our children will get a world-class education that will allow them all to reach their full potential.

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