Dear Neighbor,
Michigan school districts, teachers and students are counting on lawmakers to pass the final state budget by July 1. The process has moved extremely slowly, so my Democratic colleagues and I took action.
We introduced the House Dems’ Education Vision budget proposal to fully fund our schools and support the programs students and parents rely on most. Our plan invests $3.2 billion more into Michigan schools than FY 2025. Our investment plan is informed by conversations I’ve had with parents, teachers and community leaders across our district.
House Democrats’ Education Vision budget plan works to ensure an equitable and quality education for every child.
In our budget, we prioritized funding…
- School safety and mental health
- Universal school meals
- Great Start Readiness Program
- Class size reduction grants
- Special education
- Career and technical education
- Literacy learning grants
Meanwhile, the House Republican budget plan…
- Moved all funding out of the free school breakfast and lunch program that House Democrats fought for to ensure no child sits down to learn on an empty stomach.
- Reduced critical funding for the Great Start Readiness Program, which specifically helps children from low-income families succeed in pre-K and beyond.
- Changes eligibility for school safety and mental health funding, which could hurt schools’ ability to update infrastructure and keep kids healthy.
- Moved millions in funding away from literacy support.
- Does not include crucial funding for higher education, potentially closing doors on students from low-income families who rely on Michigan Reconnect and getting rid of operational funding that could raise tuition costs.
With possible education cuts looming at the federal level, Michigan’s students, teachers and schools cannot afford more. I have your back, and I will keep taking action to get a negotiated, people-first budget passed on time for our schools, safety and community.
Sincerely,
Amos O’Neal
State Representative
94th House District