LANSING – State Representative Lee Gonzales (D-Flint Township) announced today that the final 2008 state budget includes a School Aid Fund plan that will increase financial support for the state's lowest-funded districts, allowing them to hire more teachers in high-demand subjects such as math and science, keep class sizes small and prepare Michigan's students for the good-paying jobs of the 21st century.
"Making sure that all our students receive the best education possible is vital to ensuring that they can compete for jobs around the country and around the world," Gonzales said. "This plan gives our schools the resources they need to provide the top-notch education our children need and deserve. By increasing our investment in our local schools, we can better prepare our students for the workplace and create the talented workforce needed to attract world-class job providers to our communities."
Under the K-12 budget, school districts currently receiving the lowest payments will be brought in line with higher-funded districts through increases in equity payments. The equity payments will be based on how much districts currently receive – schools that receive $8,433 or more per student will see a $48-per-pupil increase in funding, while districts that receive $7,108 per student will receive a $96-per-pupil increase. School districts currently receiving payments in between these levels will receive an increase between $48 and $96 based on a sliding scale.
Flint Community Schools will receive a total increase of almost $1.2 million from this school equity plan. Other schools will also benefit. Flushing Community Schools, for example, will see an increase of $96 per student – the base increase of $48, plus the maximum equity payment of $48, for an additional total payment of $434,234. The Linden, Swartz Creek and Durand school districts will also receive the maximum equity payment, and Carman-Ainsworth Community Schools will receive a $76-per-student increase.