LANSING, Mich. – Michigan education leaders today sounded the alarm on the Legislature’s continued failure to pass a state budget, warning that the delay is already destabilizing local school districts and jeopardizing students’ learning.
By law, the state is required to complete the school aid budget by July 1. That deadline has come and gone, forcing Michigan’s 600+ public school districts into contingency planning as students return to classrooms this fall. Without certainty on funding, districts are being forced to freeze programs, delay hiring, and even consider layoffs.
“Uncertainty hurts students,” said Dr. Tina Kerr, executive director of the Michigan Association of Superintendents and Administrators (MASA). “Every day without a budget wastes time and resources that should be focused on teaching and learning. More than 600 districts have opened their doors this fall without knowing what their final funding will be for the year. That is unacceptable, and the Legislature must act immediately to pass a responsible budget that puts Michigan’s students first.”
Peter Spadafore, executive director of the Michigan Alliance for Student Opportunity (MASO), said the budget delay puts Michigan’s most vulnerable students at risk. “When the budget is late, the students who need the most help are the first to lose it. Literacy coaches, mental health services, and after-school programs — the very supports that close opportunity gaps — are often the first on the chopping block. Michigan cannot build a world-class education system on a foundation of guesswork.”
Local district leaders echoed those concerns, stressing the real-world consequences of the state’s inaction:
Scott Koenigsknecht, superintendent of Clinton County RESA, said: “Our districts are being forced to approve placeholder budgets that don’t reflect reality. That means programs may have to be cut mid-year, staff contracts renegotiated, and students being caught in the middle of a political food fight. This is no way to run our schools.”
Lori Haven, superintendent of Perry Public Schools, said: “We’ve had to hold off on filling positions and making critical purchases for classrooms because we simply don’t know what our budget will be. Families expect stability when they send their children to school, and right now our leaders in Lansing are leaving them guessing.”
Craig Hoekstra, superintendent of Wyoming Public Schools, warned that larger class sizes are already a reality: “When you delay hiring, it means we can’t staff at the levels we need. That translates to more students in each classroom and less one-on-one attention. Kids are the ones paying the price.”
Coby Fletcher, superintendent of Escanaba Area Public Schools, emphasized the risk to rural communities: “In smaller districts like ours, even a handful of unfilled positions or a delayed state payment can have a huge impact. We’re talking about whether we can run bus routes, keep class sizes manageable, and maintain arts and athletic programs.”
John VanWagoner, superintendent of Traverse City Area Public Schools, said: “Families and staff count on us to provide stability, and right now that’s nearly impossible. We’ve had to delay key academic and extracurricular investments that are critical to student success because we don’t know what resources we’ll have. Each school year is a one-time chance for students, and Lansing’s inaction robs them of opportunities that won’t return.”
Andrew Brodie, Superintendent of Flatrock Community Schools, said: “Educators know that assignments left to the last minute never turn out as well as ones completed with careful preparation and planning. Unfortunately, lawmakers have procrastinated on the budget, and our schools, kids and parents will be the ones to pay the price. We don’t just need a budget, we need one that provides the resources and support our students need to succeed this school year.”
Education leaders stressed that the stakes are high. Without timely state payments, districts cannot operate indefinitely, and if a government shutdown occurs, schools will be forced to close.
“Michigan’s students, families, and educators deserve better,” said Kerr. “The Legislature owes it to our communities to put politics aside and deliver a timely, responsible budget that gives schools the resources they need. Every day of delay puts our students further behind.”
