"Small Schools Legislation / Update"

Senate OKs rise in school funding

ASSOCIATED PRESS • March 27, 2008

LANSING -- The state Senate passed a $13.4-billion spending plan for K-12 public schools Wednesday after skirmishing over giving some districts a higher increase than others.

Schools would see increases ranging from $71 to $142 more per student under a plan that would give more to districts at the lower end of the funding scale. While some school districts are getting the basic foundation grant of $7,204 this school year, others receive more than $12,000 per student in state aid.

The funding formula approved 36-2 by the Senate would give all schools a $71 per-pupil increase, then double that increase for schools now getting the least amount in per-pupil aid, or $7,204. The smallest increase would go to districts now getting more than $8,433 per student.

Gov. Jennifer Granholm had proposed a similar equity system to help close the funding disparity, increasing state aid between $108 to $216 per student. Worried tax revenues could come in lower than expected, the Republican-led Senate scaled back the proposed increase but retained her formula.

Before voting, some senators tried to change the budget bill to give higher-funded districts some extra money.

Critics complained the bill as passed would help lower-funded districts at the expense of wealthier schools. But Senate Appropriations Chairman Ron Jelinek, R-Three Oaks, said the amendments would "rob the poor to support the wealthy."

Lawmakers also sparred over spending on early childhood education programs and creating small, rigorous high schools.

Republicans rejected Democrats' attempts to set up small high schools in districts with failing students. The GOP instead supported giving every district another $20 per student to spend on buildings.

The K-12 budget bill heads to the Democratic-led House. Lawmakers hope to finish the state budget by July.