LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer bragged about K-12 school funding reaching record levels under her watch.

“Michigan’s kids deserve the best shot at a bright future,” Whitmer posted on X. “For seven years, we’ve delivered record funding for our students and schools, and opened more doors to lifelong education.”

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Since Whitmer took office in January 2019, K-12 total funding (including federal dollars) has increased from $14.8 billion to $20.6 billion.

The Michigan Senate Republicans were quick to point out that academic results have not followed that flow of money.

“Under your watch 60% of the kids in that room can’t read proficiently,” the Senate GOP posted.

In fact, reading results on standardized testing got worse despite the higher spending during Whitmer’s time in office.

According to the state of Michigan, 55.5% of third through eighth graders were not proficient in English Language Arts in 2024-25. In 2018-19, that percentage of non-proficient students in reading was 52.7%.