LANSING, MI (AP)-- Democratic gubernatorial candidate Mark Schauer says Governor Rick Snyder is out of touch with a K-12 funding crisis that's demoralizing teachers and hurting kids' ability to get a good education.
Schauer said Monday that most of the Republican governor's proposed 3 percent funding increase would only help address teacher retirement costs. He says if elected he would restore per-pupil funding back to where it was before Snyder cut it and target funding to "instruction in the classroom."
K-12 spending is up under Snyder's watch, though Democrats say he's not helping schools on the ground. Snyder says federal stimulus money dried up and argues teachers' pensions and health benefits are in better shape.
Democratic state Board of Education President John Austin says financial support of public education is in "tatters."
