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Dear Friend,

Every child in Michigan deserves a chance to pursue their potential and build a bright future. Last week, the Michigan Legislature passed a historic bipartisan education budget [ [link removed] ] which will improve academic outcomes, lower costs for families, provide free breakfast and lunch for every student, take steps towards Pre-K for all, and so much more.

Here are the highlights: 


* 5,600 more free pre-K slots this fall, saving families $10,000 a year 
* Free breakfast and lunch for all 1.4 million public school students, saving families over $850 a year in groceries and valuable time every morning 
* Record per-pupil funding, up 22% since I took office 
* Expanding tuition-free associates degrees or skills certificates through Reconnect to 350,000 more young people 
* Record investments in mental health and campus safety 
* Hiring, training, and retaining thousands of teachers 
* Protecting clean air and water in schools 
school aid

And here are more detailed descriptions on each section of the education budget: 

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Pre-K for All

5,600 more free pre-K slots this fall, putting us well on the path towards accomplishing Pre-K for All by the end of my second term. Free pre-K saves families $10,000 a year and helps their kids build a solid foundation for long-term success. We know that children who go to pre-K are more likely to graduate high school, pursue higher education, and land a good-paying job. The budget will also expand the state’s Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP) to five days a week and open more pre-K classrooms. 

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K-12

The highest per-pupil funding in state history means more in-class resources for your kid or grandkid. We’ve increased per-pupil funding 22% since I took office and we closed the funding gap between schools so every student gets the same funding—no matter their zip code.

Additional resources for special education, at-risk students, and English language learners means students who need extra support get the boost they need to thrive. And the brand new ‘Nature Awaits’ program, will offer every fourth grader a free field trip to a Michigan state park so they can connect with our state and see what makes it so special. 

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Tutoring and Literacy

Funding for tutoring, literacy support, math intervention, and before and after school programming means every parent can have the peace of mind knowing their child is getting the extra academic help they need to get back on track. Academic support should not be limited by your ability to pay. These long overdue investments in academic success will give every kid personalized learning support. 

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Student Wellness

A record investment in mental health and campus safety means your kids feels secure and cared for at school with access to professionals focused on their comprehensive well-being. We included dedicated mental health dollars for every student in every school, including support for school safety and student mental health.

Free breakfast and lunch for every single kid is a no-brainer. It’s hard to learn on an empty stomach. I am proud that we are just the 5th state to get this done. It will save families over $850 a year and valuable time every morning. Working parents have a lot going on. Knowing their kid will eat at school—no matter what—will lighten their burden and help their kids thrive. 

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Educators  

Our educators are the backbone of Michigan. Through the continued funding of the MI Future Educator Program [ [link removed] ], more college students will be put on tuition-free paths to become certified teachers. I am proud that thousands have already used this program and with this expansion, more will join them, growing the teaching profession. We are strengthening our teacher mentoring programs and recruiting, training and retaining early educators especially for rural areas.

Our vision is ambitious but achievable: make Michigan the best state to become a teacher. Future educators in Michigan—whether they’re student teachers, school staff, or future educators in college—should be able to enter the classroom without worrying about burdensome loans or costs. This budget helps us get there. 

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Higher Education

I am proud of the bipartisan work we have done to put tens of thousands of Michiganders on tuition-free paths to higher education or skills certificates. This budget builds on all that good work: 


* Lowers the age for Michigan Reconnect [ [link removed] ] to 21, expanding eligibility for a tuition-free associates degree or skills certificate to 350,000 more Michiganders. 
* Continues funding the Michigan Achievement Scholarship [ [link removed] ], lowering the cost of community, private, or public college by thousands for 80% of students starting this fall. 
* Boosts funding for universities and community colleges, helping them improve the campus experience for students. It also funds critical incidence mapping, ensuring they have solid plans for emergency event. 

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School Infrastructure

Funds for MI Healthy Schools mean resources to upgrade HVAC systems, water filters, and so much more. Clean air and clean water are essential to a child’s success. We cannot have schools close because it’s too hot to learn and the air conditioning doesn’t work. These grants will help schools make long overdue upgrades, ensuring classrooms are safe, comfortable places to focus and learn.

Resources for improved campus health facilities and additional health professionals means our campuses will be even safer, better places to learn. New investments to lower transportation costs for districts and help them buy electric school buses. Both will help students get to school safely and on time and reduce asthma rates, road noise, and fueling costs. A brand-new rainy-day fund for schools and critical resources to shore up the retirement of teachers and staff shores up the long-term financial stability of our schools. 

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I want every parent in Michigan to know—from the day your child enters pre-K to the day they walk across the graduation stage—we will have their back and yours. Our goal is to help anyone ‘make it’ in Michigan by investing in education at every level, bringing home good-paying jobs, and making communities across our state more attractive places to live and work.

Let’s keep working together and investing in our future!

Sincerely, 

sig

Gretchen Whitmer

Governor








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