LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – A July 1 deadline is looming as the Michigan legislature looks to shore-up a new education budget.

The GOP-controlled House plan, which passed earlier this month, increases per pupil funding by $2,400. That means most districts will see a record-high $12,000 in spending per student.  House Speaker Matt Hall (R-Richland) said the Republican plan gives schools more flexibility when it comes to spending the money.

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“The Democrats are trying to stuff it full of hundreds of earmarks mostly for profit companies,” Speaker Hall told conservative talk show host Steve Gruber on Monday. “The Republicans are trying to…empower the local districts.” Hall claimed that many Democrats try to set aside funding for certain testing or tutoring companies as part of the budget, but Hall said those decisions should be in the hands of local districts.

However, Gruber pushed back. “We pay more and more, and what do we get out of it?” Gruber asked. He pointed out the overall proposed budget of close to $85 billion this year. In addition, Gruber said 2024’s education budget of $23.4 billion still didn’t guarantee success for students or their math and reading skills.

In the Lansing School District alone, 70% of students are not proficient in math or reading. Detroit Public Schools received a failing grade in 2024 for being the worst performing district in the nation.

Throwing more money at schools isn’t solving the problem either. Michigan News Source previously reported a national report found Michigan students lost 44% of a grade equivalent in average reading and math scores between 2019 and 2023. Those scores come smack-dab in the middle of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s COVID-19 shutdowns of K-12 schools.

In addition, these scores come in the shadow of record spending in 2021 ($17.1 billion), 2022 ($19.6 billion), 2023 ($24.3), and 2024 ($23.4).

Hall met with Gov. Whitmer and Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks (D-Grand Rapids) last week to discuss the education budget.