$150 million going into Michigan classrooms
State Rep. Betsy Coffia (D-Traverse City) speaks at a press conference on Sept. 25, 2024, in the Speakers Library at the Capitol.
LANSING, Mich., Oct. 11, 2024 — Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed House Bill 5503 into law yesterday, which provides an additional $125 million for schools across the state to use at their discretion for funds related to school safety and mental health, on top of the $25 million that was approved earlier this year for schools. The legislation also provides an additional $1 million for educational materials on the safe storage of firearms and allows for an anonymous tip line to accept reports of improperly stored firearms that a child might be able to access. In celebration of the bill being signed into law, state Rep. Betsy Coffia (D-Traverse City) issued the following statement:
“We are building up on the successes of our previous budgets by continuing to put money where it is needed most — in the classroom. Since gaining a majority, Michigan Democrats have made fiscally responsible investments to ensure that our schools, students, and teachers are set up for success. We have also made our rural school districts a priority by allocating $125 million in the Fiscal Year 2025 school aid budget, which includes funds for transportation costs and creating a more equitable funding formula that I proposed to support our rural school districts. Now, with this budget supplemental, we are ensuring that kids remain safe by having more access to mental health resources and funding for school safety.”
###