LANSING (WKZO AM/FM) — A comprehensive report that looks at what it actually costs to educate a student in Michigan says state lawmakers are seriously underfunding schools.
It was put together at the behest of a group of school and business officials called the School Finance Research Collaborative who say Michigan has lost its edge, and school funding is one reason.
The minimum foundation allowance is currently just over $7,600. Project Director Bob Moore says that’s about $2000 too low. The base foundation grant per student should be over $9500.
Additions could be added for a number of other issues, ranging from poverty to special needs to remote districts.
Rick Johnson former Michigan House speaker says they hope the 358 page report, which breaks the issue down for rural schools, urban schools, remote schools and charter schools will help legislators reform how they fund education.
He says this is not a partisan issue, its about making sure kids are ready to compete in a global economy.
Kalamazoo Public Schools was one of the early members of the Collaborative.
The study was conducted by prestigious private research firms and funded by the W.K. Kellogg and Charles Mott foundations.
