Department of Education

Leadership for Michigan’s public education system is vested by the Michigan state constitution in the elected members of the State Board of Education and the Superintendent of Public Instruction. The governor’s proposed budget for fiscal year 2017 and 2018 recommends total ongoing funding of $308.4 million, of which $75.9 million is general fund. For fiscal year 2017, the recommendation also includes $8.6 million in one-time funding, of which $500,000 is general fund.

Highlights of Governor’s Budget Recommendation

The fiscal year 2017 budget recommendation builds on the educational priorities of past budgets, with a focus on early literacy and career and college readiness.

Improving 3rd Grade Reading Proficiency and Student Outcomes

• The Executive Budget includes $500,000 to support the development, implementation, and monitoring of multi-tiered systems of supports (MTSS) in districts with academically atrisk students. The MTSS framework is a proven strategy to improve early literacy that uses evidence-based, data-driven problem-solving to provide tiered academic and behavioral interventions based on identified student needs.

• Early identification of learning delays and special needs is vital to achieving literacy by the end of 3rd grade. The governor’s budget continues to recommend the ongoing investment of $2.5 million in the school aid budget to support home visits for at-risk children prior to kindergarten entry. The department budget includes $175,000 general fund to coordinate and monitor these efforts.

• The budget recommends $300,000 general fund to implement recommendations of the Special Education Reform Task Force. This funding will improve the quality of the $1.4 billion invested in the school aid budget for special education services.

Ensuring Students Are College and Career Ready

• The governor’s budget continues to focus on programs that teach students the necessary skills for success after high school. The school aid budget includes a total of $25 million (an increase of $15 million) for career and technical education (CTE) and early/middle college (EMC) program expansions and equipment upgrades. The Executive Budget recommends $395,000 general fund for the department to work collaboratively with intermediate school districts to develop and implement strategic training and career education plans that align

new CTE and EMC programs with the skill needs of the state’s prosperity regions.

Stabilizing Teacher Certification Resources

• The governor’s budget recommends $500,000 one-time general fund to stabilize declining restricted revenue dedicated to teacher preparation, teacher certification, and other qualityrelated activities. The budget includes a recommendation to increase teacher certification and renewal fees, which will generate additional ongoing revenue for the department to deliver these services.

Supporting the Children of Flint

In response to the emergency in the City of Flint, the governor’s budget recommends investing $8.1 million federal Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) revenue to expand access to childcare for city residents, ensuring that children and families impacted by the emergency receive the early education resources they need. Funding is based on half-year cost estimates.

• The Executive Budget includes $8 million CCDF to pilot the expansion of half-day childcare services to all children ages 0 to 3 in Flint, regardless of household income. This will guarantee that children in the city who may have been impacted by exposure to lead have access to high-quality childcare options to help address potential developmental delays.

• The governor’s budget recommendation for fiscal year 2017 also includes $50,000 CCDF to provide information to childcare providers on identification and intervention services for children needing additional supports due to lead exposure.

• For fiscal year 2016, the governor is recommending the adoption of a $17.6 million ($6 million general fund) supplemental to assist children and families impacted by the emergency. Recommendations include $8.1 million CCDF for partial year funding for childcare eligibility expansions in Flint and $9.5 million ($6 million general fund) for food and nutrition programs.