LANSING — Michigan’s fiscal year 2024 education budget includes record investments that will expand free pre-K to 5,600 more children this fall and take steps towards pre-K for all, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said.

The budget includes free breakfast and lunch for all 1.4 million public school students. It also funds tutoring, before and after school programming, literacy support, and mental health resources.

“Healthy School Meals for All will be transformational for Michigan’s students and families,” said Collin McDonough, director of Michigan Government Relations at the American Heart Association.

“Not only will it help students learn — no one can focus on an empty stomach — it will help reduce the risk for chronic diseases such as high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes. Proper nutrition is a key component of a heart-healthy lifestyle, and this having no-cost breakfast and lunch will ensure our students have what they need to succeed inside and outside the classroom. We applaud Gov. Whitmer, the state legislature, the Michigan Department of Education, our partner organizations No Kid Hungry Michigan and the School Nutrition Association of Michigan, and the Michigan School Meals Coalition for their tireless work to take this program from an idea to reality,” McDonough said.

The budget makes Michigan one of the lowest-cost states to become a teacher, with tuition-free training, student loan repayment, and stipends while student teaching, Whitmer said in a news release.

Also, it sets aside resources in a rainy-day fund for schools and shores up retirements for educators.

“This is another outstanding budget, one that again works hard on funding adequacy and equity,” said State Superintendent Dr. Michael Rice. “In addition to a 5% foundation allowance increase, big percentage increases for the education of students with disabilities and English learners, and additional funding earmarked for staff compensation, the budget funds greater flexibility and continued expansion of the Great Start Readiness Program program toward universally accessible pre-school, the implementation of the governor’s MI Kids Back on Track tutoring program for children who are behind in reading or math, universal school meals for students, and an opportunity index to fund high percentages of economically disadvantaged students.”

The budget also funds mentoring for new teachers, new counselors, and new administrators, as well as training for school board members, and transportation reimbursement to help address the cost of transportation, especially for rural districts whose per-rider costs are high, Rice said.

“In the 30 years since Proposal A to change the school funding system, Michigan hasn’t had two years of back-to-back funding increases close to FY23 and FY24. Kudos to the governor and state legislature for their work, among that of many others, on the budget front,” he said.

A breakdown of budget highlights:

Pre-K for All

— $72.6 million to expand free preschool to up to 5,600 more kids through the Great Start Readiness Program.

— $235 million to expand GSRP to 5 days a week and open new classrooms.

K-12

— $9,608 per-pupil funding, up $458 over last year. 22% increase since the Governor took office, an all-time high.

— $344.8 million in additional funding for at risk and special education students.

Tutoring & Literacy

— $150 million for MI Kids Back on Track, offering individualized support for more kids.

— $150 million to strengthen reading instruction, including LETRS training.

— $50 million to expand before and after school programming.

— $10.5 million to add one literacy coach per ISD and improve coach compensation.

Student Wellness

— $328 million to support school safety and student mental health.

— $160 million to provide free breakfast and lunch to every kid and forgive all school meal debt.

— $59.5 million to improve campus health facilities and recruit and retain health professionals.

— $28.9 million additional to continue mental and physical health services on school campuses.

— $8 million to establish Nature Awaits, providing every 4th grader a free field trip to a state park.

Educators

— $370 million to support teachers, including continued support for the MI Future Educator Program, which provides a tuition free path for college students to become certified teachers, and funds to retain and develop existing teachers through mentorship programs.

— $76 million to expand ‘grow your own’ programs, helping districts train staff for classroom roles.

— $50 million to strengthen teacher mentoring programs.

— $30 million to recruit, train, and retain early educators, additional $15 million specifically for rural areas.

Infrastructure & Fiscal Responsibility

— $450 million for a new dedicated rainy-day fund for schools.

— $400 million to shore up the retirement of our hardworking school faculty and staff.

— $350 million to lower transportation costs for districts.

— $125 million to buy electric vehicle buses, improving air quality, lowering road noise.

— $50 million for MI Healthy Schools, improving air and water quality.