FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

July 17, 2023

Contact: [email protected]

What’s in the Budget to Support Students and Teachers?

LANSING, Mich. – Governor Whitmer has worked with legislators to pass a balanced, bipartisan state budget for Fiscal Year 2024 focused on growing the economy, lowering costs, delivering on kitchen-table issues, and helping anyone “Make it in Michigan.” The fiscal year 2024 education budget includes record investments to support students and expand a pathway to opportunity for every child in Michigan.

“This record, bipartisan education budget will improve student outcomes, lower costs for families, and help every kid pursue their potential from preschool through postsecondary,” said Governor Whitmer. “Since I took office, we have worked across the aisle to support students, parents, and educators and this budget is no different. It will expand free pre-K to 5,600 more kids this fall, saving their families $10,000 a year and taking steps towards Pre-K for All. It will deliver free breakfast and lunch to all 1.4 million public school students, this fall saving their families over $850 a year and valuable time every morning. There’s so much more in the budget on mental health, campus safety, tuition-free paths to higher education for 350,000 more Michiganders, teacher recruitment and retention, and more. This budget will make a real difference in the upcoming school year and will help our students ‘make it’ in Michigan. Let’s keep getting things done.”

The record education budget will improve outcomes and lower costs. It ensures every kid gets free

breakfast and lunch and a great early start with steps towards Pre-K for All. It funds tutoring, before and after school programming, literacy support, and mental health resources so students succeed in the

classroom. The budget also makes Michigan one of the lowest-cost states to become a teacher, with

tuition-free training, student loan repayment, and stipends while student teaching. It will improve

school infrastructure, better transportation options, build facilities, and protect clean air and water in

school. Finally, it sets aside resources in a rainy-day fund for schools and shores up retirements for our

Educators.

“I’ve spoken to many Superintendents across the state and there is a resounding appreciation for the education funding in this year’s state budget,” said Dr. Tina Kerr, MASA Executive Director. “These dollars are critical to helping our districts address student and staff mental health, increase school safety measures, and provide specialized learning opportunities. It is essential that public education be funded at this level both now and in the future so that our schools can continue to prepare our students for their own success and for Michigan’s future.”

“This is another outstanding budget, one that again works hard on funding adequacy and equity,” said State Superintendent Dr. Michael Rice.  “In addition to a 5 percent foundation allowance increase, big percentage increases for the education of students with disabilities and English learners, and additional funding earmarked for staff compensation, the budget funds greater flexibility and continued expansion of the Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP) program toward universally accessible pre-school, the implementation of the governor’s MI Kids Back on Track tutoring program for children who are behind in reading or math, universal school meals for students, and an opportunity index to fund high percentages of economically disadvantaged students.  The budget also funds mentoring for new teachers, new counselors, and new administrators, as well as training for school board members, and transportation reimbursement to help address the cost of transportation, especially for rural districts whose per-rider costs are high.  In the 30 years since Proposal A to change the school funding system, Michigan hasn’t had two years of back-to-back funding increases close to FY23 and FY24. Kudos to the governor and state legislature for their work, among that of many others, on the budget front.”

“For years, The Alliance has advocated for a budget that invests in equity and supports the individual needs of every Michigan child,” said Peter Spadafore, executive director of the Michigan Alliance for Student Opportunity. “This budget creates the roadmap for achieving that goal while making significant investments in our most vulnerable learners.”

“Healthy School Meals for All will be transformational for Michigan’s students and families,” said Collin McDonough, Director of Michigan Government Relations at the American Heart Association. “Not only will it help students learn—no one can focus on an empty stomach—it will help reduce the risk for chronic diseases such as high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes. Proper nutrition is a key component of a heart-healthy lifestyle, and this having no-cost breakfast and lunch will ensure our students have what they need to succeed inside and outside the classroom. We applaud Governor Whitmer, the state legislature, the Michigan Department of Education, our partner organizations No Kid Hungry Michigan and the School Nutrition Association of Michigan, and the Michigan School Meals Coalition for their tireless work to take this program from an idea to reality.”

“The GSRP funding included in this budget is an investment in today’s children, who are also tomorrow’s workforce here in Michigan, said Carrie Rosingana, CEO of Capital Area Michigan Works! and chair of the PreK for All Action Team. “By expanding access to preK for more kids and supporting new GSRP classrooms this announcement is a reflection of the state’s continued focus on lowering costs for families, supporting early learning, and investing in the growth and retention of early childhood professionals in Michigan.”

“Thanks to the hard work of Gov. Whitmer and leaders in the state House and Senate, our local schools will continue to make progress in attracting and retaining qualified educators who can help our students succeed,” said Paula Herbart, a longtime teacher from Macomb County and president of the Michigan Education Association. “It’s critical that we keep great educators on the job and attract talented people into this noble profession, and this budget agreement provides our schools with much-needed resources to help accomplish these goals.”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

July 12, 2023

Contact: [email protected]

Gov. Whitmer Signs Bipartisan Legislation Declaring Juneteenth a State Holiday

LANSING, Mich. – Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed bipartisan legislation sponsored by state Senator Sylvia Santana and state Representative Helena Scott, declaring Juneteenth a state holiday in Michigan. In Michigan, June 19th will now be celebrated as Juneteenth, a day to highlight Black history and culture, commemorate the end of slavery in America and celebrate fundamental values we all hold dear—freedom, liberty, and equality.

“On Juneteenth, we come together to celebrate fundamental American values of freedom and equality, embodied by the stories and legacies of the Black community, ,” said Governor Whitmer. “Juneteenth is a moment of celebration and reflection, but it is also an opportunity to recommit ourselves to action. Since I took office, we have been focused on making Michigan a more equitable place where every Michigander has equal opportunity to succeed. Together, we have invested in communities in every region of Michigan, taken action to close racial gaps in health care and education, and banned race-based discrimination against natural hair. June 19th will forever be known as Juneteenth in Michigan and I encourage every Michigander to reflect on our history and celebrate the values that we will continue fighting for together.”

On June 19, 1865, Union Army General Gordon Granger landed in Galveston, Texas and read General Order #3, stating that all enslaved people were free, and that former masters and enslaved people were absolutely equal in personal and property rights. Juneteenth was followed by the ratification of the 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments ending slavery, guaranteeing equal protection under the law to all citizens, and granting all men the right vote.

“Juneteenth is an important opportunity to highlight the stories of Black Michiganders and celebrate the path we are walking toward the freedom, equality, and justice that is the promise of Michigan and America,” said Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist II. “This bill will codify Juneteenth into law as a state holiday and ensure we take time every Juneteenth to recognize both the progress we have made and the work we must continue to do together. As Michigan’s first Black Lieutenant Governor, I am proud to work alongside Michiganders to address issues like the disparities in health care access and discrimination at school or the workplace, and make record investments in infrastructure, education, and environmental justice that particularly impact Black Michiganders. Governor Whitmer and I are committed to ensuring every Michigander has the opportunity to succeed.

Last year, as a part of a collective bargaining agreement the Governor worked with the state and union leaders to make Juneteenth a state holiday for all state employees before legislation was passed.

“For years, Wayne County has recognized Juneteenth as a holiday, to serve as a reminder of the struggles and triumphs of African Americans. State-wide recognition of Juneteenth encourages families of every culture and race to foster an understanding, engage in dialogue and come to appreciate that African American History is American History,” said Wayne County Executive Warren C. Evans.

“This is important to the descendants of slaves who received this news two years later,” state Senator Sylvia Santana (D-Detroit). “More importantly it elevates our awareness that we have a second Independence Day in American history.”

“I was extremely proud to have introduced legislation to establish Juneteenth, on June 19th, as a state-recognized holidays,” said State Rep. Helena Scott (D-Detroit). “Recognizing Juneteenth as an official state holiday I feel is a crucial and necessary effort to expand racial justice and equity in Michigan. All Michiganders can have the opportunity to reflect on the tough survival instincts and experiences of the African-American slave, and the triumph with which African-Americans first celebrated the abolition of slavery, and why the freeing of slaves is one of the most important events of our country’s past. Enacting Juneteenth as a state-recognized holiday is a first step in acknowledging history and why it matters. It also gives the State of Michigan a chance to celebrate Black individuals and their descendants, while coming together to reflect on the importance of protecting our freedoms, equally, for all citizens.”

Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day, Jubilee Day and Liberation Day, constitutes the continuous fight for true freedom,” said NAACP Michigan State Conference President, Yvonne M. White. “Freedom is a thread, and a fight, woven through this nation’s history and current political climate. In spite of attempts to limit access to the ballot box, economic/education empowerment, and basic civil rights – we thrive together. The NAACP applauds Governor Whitmer and Lt. Governor Gilchrist for their bold leadership in making Juneteenth a state holiday in Michigan, celebrating true freedom for all.”

“I join the Michiganders around the State in applauding Governor Whitmer for officially naming Juneteenth as a state holiday and shining a light on this day, its history, and what it means to the descendants of slaves, our State and this Nation,” said Detroit City Council President, Mary Sheffield. “This is a welcomed announcement as we are on the heels of the first celebration of Juneteenth as a paid holiday in the City of Detroit. This effort to also make Juneteenth a state holiday amplifies the importance and significance of our history and is illustrative of the commitment to diversity and inclusion under the Whitmer/Gilchrist Administration.”

Since they took office, Governor Whitmer and Lt. Governor Gilchrist have been committed to making Michigan a more equitable and just state. The governor assembled the most diverse cabinet in Michigan’s history to ensure that government is more representative of all Michiganders. Nearly 350 Black Michiganders are currently serving as appointees across Michigan’s boards, commissions, and full-time positions, and more than 60% of appointees are women or people of color. The governor has also appointed 28 Black Michiganders to the bench out of 87 judicial appointments.