Dear Friend,

The end of the school year is here, which means summer has finally arrived. Nothing beats a Pure Michigan summer, whether you’re spending time by the lake or in your backyard with family and friends.

I want to thank all of our educators, school staff, and administrators for all of their hard work this school year and for their outstanding dedication to their communities, both inside and outside the classroom.

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This school year, we continued putting students first by investing in our schools, paying and training more future educators, and making critical investments in school safety, mental health, and before- and after-school programs. We implemented record-high per-pupil funding, with an average increase of $400 per student compared to last year.

This year, we also continued to provide free breakfast and lunch to every public school student — all 1.4 million of them. Free school meals helped families save hundreds of dollars on groceries and gave them back valuable time each morning to get everyone out the door. While summer is here, we know that hunger isn’t going anywhere. That’s why I want you to know that Michigan also offers programs to help feed kids during the summer. See the details below for Michigan’s summer food assistance programs to ensure children have access to nutritious food while school is out.

Students, I hope you get outside and enjoy everything Michigan’s great outdoors has to offer this summer. Teachers, may you find time to kick back, relax, and recharge. Parents... good luck.

Let's keep putting students first by investing in our schools and giving every child the opportunity to succeed.

Have a safe and fun summer!

Sincerely,

Let’s Keep Investing in our Students and Educators

At the beginning of this year, I released my education budget recommendation for fiscal year 2026 that takes commonsense action to improve academic results and support Michigan’s educators.

Over the school year, I heard from students, parents, and teachers about how we must continue to invest in their success. From free school meals and investments in school safety to the MI Future Educator fellowship, the actions we’ve taken so far are delivering real results for Michiganders. We cannot stop here.

As the Michigan Legislature works to finalize next year’s budget, I expect them to come together to pass a balanced, bipartisan budget by the July 1 statutory deadline.

Let’s find common ground and deliver another budget that makes critical investments in literacy, lowers costs for teachers, and continues our historic, bipartisan commitment to Michigan’s students and schools.

Let’s get it done.

Access to Nutritious Food for Kids While School Is Out

This summer, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) announced the continuation of the Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) program, also known as SUN Bucks, to ensure children have access to nutritious food while school is out.

I’m proud that we’re continuing our successful Summer EBT program to help parents feed their kids healthy meals between school years. While folks in DC keep trying to find ways to cut health care for Michiganders and food benefits for hungry families, here in Michigan we will keep taking action to make a real difference in their lives.

For more information on the SUN Bucks program — including detailed eligibility criteria and application instructions — please visit the MDHHS Summer EBT page at Summer EBT. Eligible families will receive $120 per child, which covers  $40 per month for June, July, and August 2025.

Additional programs designed to feed children during the summer months include MDE-administered programs like the Summer Food Service Program, also known as Meet Up and Eat Up in Michigan, and the Rural Non-Congregate Summer Food Service Program, also known as Meals to Go.