Whitmer’s education budget offers the support our students need
A budget defines priorities.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s K-12 budget tells Michiganders and Detroiters that they believe in public education, the children and families who access it, and the employees who serve those children and families.
We have all grown tired of elected officials, and those who aspire to elected office, offer endless platitudes about supporting public education, while underfunding it.
Gov. Whitmer does not just talk about the importance of public education. Her budget affirms that commitment. In fact, each of her proposed budgets has been called upon to increase student funding for four years, and narrowing down the positive movement between the state and local funded equity gaps with school districts with wealthy local tax bases and those that are limited.
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Specifically, the governor’s budget prioritizes more funding for mental health support, new textbooks and equipment, AP and honors classes, as well as support for special education, economically disadvantaged students, rural districts, and English language learners. To begin with the state taking more responsibility for improving the quality of school buildings, the governor is proposing a $ 1-billion investment in the school infrastructure, which will help schools improve air and water quality, build new STEM-focused facilities, and refurbish classrooms. General Chat Chat Lounge
All children, and most school districts, were negatively impacted by the pandemic, from losses in enrollment to learning loss to mental health challenges. These challenges were more significant for communities of color and low-income households.
We need to stop pretending that K-12 public education investment is not part of the solution to better support our students and families, before or after a pandemic.
The investment in K-12 public education is an investment in children and communities. Period.
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We can have more public debate about how school districts can better spend and hold themselves accountable for funding, but let’s stop arguing that greater investment is not needed.
Investment in K-12 public education improves staff retention and hiring, expands wraparound services for students, and addresses infrastructure challenges. The governor’s education budget proposal includes a $ 2,000 bonus for every school employee this fall, with additional bonuses if they come back in 2023. All of these factors contribute to increasing student achievement.
Recently, the Detroit Public Schools Community District received roughly $ 1.3 billion from the federal government’s one-time funding to assist the district in overcoming the unexpected challenges of the pandemic.
This is the first time in my 20-year career that I have felt adequately funded to better address the socioeconomic challenges that myriad schools face.
This funding allowed the district to return to employees and students safely in-person work and learning, but more importantly, it has empowered us to expand summer school programming, after-school programming, increase literacy support for students, reduce class sizes, provide each school. With a nurse and mental health resources, and make a major investment in the long-overdue school building infrastructure. This has increased our average daily attendance, and improved literacy and mathematics growth among students as compared to the last school year.
DPSCD and other school districts should not have to wait for a pandemic to best support the resources of their employees, students and families. Children do not care about Democrat and Republican platforms, campaigns, and politics. When it comes to K-12 public education, families want to invest in their children’s futures. As a society, we should all agree on that point.
Regardless of school choice options and the politics that come along with it, the vast majority of Michigan and Detroit children are supported through public schools, and our most vulnerable families and students depend on it for a better future.
Let’s get behind Gov. Whitmer’s K-12 education budget, and committing to working out the details so we can continue to overcome the educational challenges of the pandemic.
Nikolai Vitti is the superintendent of the Detroit Public Schools Community District.