LANSING, MI (AP)-- A proposed K-12 budget advancing in the Michigan Senate includes a larger increase in base funding than proposed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer but rejects her call for a new formula to account for higher costs to teach at-risk, special education, and career and technical students.
A Republican-led panel approved the bill on a party-line vote Thursday. It would boost overall K-12 spending to $15.2 billion, or 2.7%. It's about $131 million less than what the Democratic governor proposes.
The Senate plan would increase the minimum per-student allowance by $270. Better-funded districts would get $135 more per student. Whitmer proposes an increase ranging between $120 and $180 per pupil.
The Senate plan has lower funding increases than Whitmer does for districts' disadvantaged, special education and vocational students.