Whitmer’s Legacy Education Budget | Lansing News

Governor Gretchen Whitmer just signed a historic $22.9 billion education budget—her “legacy” plan—packed with bold promises: free pre-K, free school meals, free community college, and a nationwide literacy push with phonics training for teachers. A new “weighted formula” allocates extra funding—nearly $1.7 billion—to students learning English or from disadvantaged backgrounds, with districts required to meet specific equity benchmarks. Personal to Whitmer, the budget honors her grandparents’ education roots and passed with surprising bipartisan support. Though the number looks smaller than last year due to projected federal cuts, officials suspect those cuts may not materialize. Over $300 million is earmarked for student mental health and safety. This collaborative win between a divided legislature proves what’s possible when lawmakers unite for students. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/60405c43d3daa24a