June 16, 2026

In two weeks, Michigan's legislature will miss the July 1 statutory deadline to finalize the School Aid Fund budget…again.

Last year’s long budget delay forced schools into contingency planning instead of focusing on students. Without a state budget, schools cannot responsibly plan for staffing, class sizes, transportation, or essential services. Schools will have to once again consider freezing programs, delaying hiring or laying off staff. Families deserve stability; this uncertainty hurts students, staff and the community.

We are urging you to send a clear message to Lansing: Legislators and Gov. Whitmer must act now to pass and sign a responsible School Aid Fund budget that supports our students, educators and classrooms. 

Please contact your State Representative, State Senator and Governor Whitmer today to demand immediate action. 

Use the following talking points to customize your message. Be sure to include specific district examples of how the delay will affect your staff and students:

• On behalf of our students, staff, and community, I urge you to pass a responsible and sustainable budget by the July 1 state law deadline.  
• We are legally obligated to complete our budgets by the end of June. We will fulfill that obligation and expect the state to follow the law as well.
• Last year, Lansing not only failed to meet their legal obligation to pass the School Aid Fund budget by the July 1 deadline, but they also didn’t pass a budget until after the Constitutional deadline of October 1.
• Because of that long delay, school districts were forced to freeze programs, leave vacant positions open, delay needed purchases and increase class sizes. 
• This year, the budget process seemed to be running on time, and all parties agreed early on that the budget could be done by July 1. But public comments have changed this month, and we have seen no movement to finish the budget. This is unacceptable.
• Our students should not be political pawns in the budget, structural governance changes or broad property tax reform discussions. School Aid dollars should be for our classrooms, not put at risk to balance the General Fund or cut property taxes.
• There is enough common ground between the three budget proposals to come to an agreement quickly that meets the needs of Michigan’s students. 
• This includes an inflationary increase to the foundation allowance, implementing weighted funding for at-risk and ELL students, stopping the diversion of K12 dollars away from the classroom, and fixing the school safety and mental health funding.
• Lansing must act now and pass a responsible School Aid Budget that protects public education dollars, sustains our schools and ensures our staff have the resources needed to support our students.