House GOP K-12 budget targets DEI, wraps school meals, other programs into per-pupil funding

Michigan House Republicans on Wednesday proposed one of the largest increases to per-pupil funding for public schools in years, but their Democratic colleagues argued that many key costs for school meal and at-risk programs would come out of classroom funding.

It would also come with a 20% foundation allowance penalty if districts were noncomplaint with proposed boilerplate language prohibiting race, gender and DEI instruction or initiatives. That includes any curriculum that includes supposed race or gender “stereotyping,” allowing transgender girls to participate in girls’ sports or providing multistall unisex bathrooms. 

The school aid budget reported Wednesday by the House Appropriations Committee would allocate $21.9 billion with $69.9 million coming from the state’s general fund, a 5.5% increase from last year’s approved budget.