Michigan raised school spending -- a lot -- and fell farther behind

Photo: Annie Barker/Bridge Michigan

When it comes to education, Michigan is "a silver bullet state," says Venessa Keesler, a former deputy state superintendent who now leads an education advocacy group. “We expect this instant gratification with this huge investment of cash." But, academic performance keeps sliding, report Ron French, Mike Wilkinson and Isabel Lohman for Bridge Michigan.

The spending spree started in 2015. “If 10 years from now we’re not a top 10 performing state, then shame on all of us,” said then-State Superintendent Brian Whiston.

"During the next decade, Michigan beefed up staffing, increased free early childhood education and opened its cafeterias for free breakfast and lunch — efforts predicted to improve learning," the Bridge reporters write. Over 10 years, per-pupil funding went up by 60 percent, reaching $17,535 per student by 2022-23, according to U.S. Census data. "And Michigan students fell further behind."

“The reality is we invest more per pupil than most states and achieve bottom 10 results,” said Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in her 2025 State of the State address. 

Mississippi improved by focusing on one goal: Every third-grader would read at or above grade level or repeat the grade.

Michigan's 2015 blueprint for reform set seven goals, 44 strategies and 105 sub-strategies, write French, Wilkinson and Lohman. Goals were ambitious -- and fuzzy.

Goal 2: “Implement, with strong district and building leadership, high-quality instruction in every classroom through a highly coherent, child-centered instructional model where students meet their self-determined academic and personal goals to their highest potential.”

When power shifted from one party to another, the education plan changed.

Legislators voted to grade Michigan schools on an A-to-F scale, then the system was dropped. Third-graders were supposed to read at grade level to advance to fourth grade for a few years, before the state punted. There were seven different accountability systems for Michigan schools in the 10 years between 2010 and 2020.

Even if state leaders agreed, each district went its own way.

Democrats, who control the Senate, want to spend more to lower class sizes and increase teacher pay. The Republican-controlled House proposes linking funding for literacy coaches and smaller classes to a plan to retain third graders who can't read. Whitmer can't run for re-election, and improving schools is expected to be an issue in the race for governor.

Michigan’s education slide has affected urban, suburban and rural districts, Bridge reports. "Both the state’s economically disadvantaged students and their wealthier classmates recorded some of the biggest drops in the nation" on NAEP.

It's a naked-emperor moment, says Keesler. But what will Michigan do?