Only donate if we've informed you about important Michigan issues
See what new members are saying about why they donated to Bridge Michigan:
- “In order for this information to be accurate and unbiased it must be underwritten by its readers, not by special interests.” - Larry S.
- “Not many other media sources report on the topics Bridge does.” - Susan B.
- “Your journalism is outstanding and rare these days.” - Mark S.
If you want to ensure the future of nonpartisan, nonprofit Michigan journalism, please become a member today. You, too, will be asked why you donated and maybe we'll feature your quote next time!
Opinion | Michigan school funding needs to be predictable and weighted
Share this:
Politicians and policymakers are pledging that 2026 will be the year that K-12 education takes center stage in Michigan. This is a good thing.
While it’s true that EVERY year should be the year in which K-12 education is the top issue in our state, it’s refreshing to see that the people in power are making this their No. 1 priority in 2026. Our kids deserve nothing less.
The reason we’re seeing this emphasis, of course, is that things are not going well. As a state, we rank near the bottom of most K-12 education metrics, particularly in literacy. In fourth-grade reading, Michigan ranks 44th. That’s inexcusable.
We need to find solutions, and we need to find them now. The first thing we should do is look at the schools in Michigan that are working (there are a lot of them), look at the states where things are working (Mississippi), and do what they’re doing.
In terms of the schools that are working, as a charter school educator, I’m proud to say that a lot of them can be found in our sector. Star International Academy in Dearborn Heights, one of the charter schools our organization works with, is an excellent example. We serve a largely Middle Eastern student population that includes many English Language Learners, but our test scores are among the best in the area.
On the most recent SAT, our students scored an average of 974.9, well above the state average of 945, despite the fact that nearly 94% of our students are economically disadvantaged. At the same time, our students have earned over $100 million in scholarships through the years. Star International Academy is now ranked the No. 2 high school in all of Dearborn and Dearborn Heights by U.S. News and World Report, ahead of many far more affluent schools.
We also believe strongly in Career Technical Education, so we have our own CTE center that includes a fully functional radio station, robotics/engineering garage and a working health clinic. Our students regularly interview state and community leaders at the radio station, broadcasting in both English and Arabic, the robotics/engineering garage is leading students to engineer award-winning robots and the clinic gives students hands-on experience working alongside health professionals.
We’ve succeeded at Star International Academy because we provide an individualized education with rigorous academic standards; our teachers have the flexibility to innovate, and we provide multiple pathways to student success.
There are success stories like this throughout Michigan — at charter schools and traditional schools alike — and our politicians and policymakers need to study what’s working so that we can do more of it.
We also need to look at what’s been working in other states, and there’s no better example than Mississippi. In 2013, Mississippi was 49th in the nation in fourth-grade reading. In 2024, the state had improved all the way to ninth place. Among children living in poverty, Mississippi has the highest fourth-grade reading scores in the country.
How did they pull off the “Mississippi Miracle”? By doing what Michigan can (and should) be doing. They provide research-based literacy training for teachers and hold schools accountable for outcomes. Kids can’t learn if they can’t read. Mississippi showed us that implementing a reading-based strategy over 10 years works. No student should be allowed to fall through the cracks.
Mississippi also has consistent student-outcome performance standards that don’t change every time new people are elected to office. We need that in Michigan, as well.
Other states are showing us that student success is built on a clear and proven funding structure for the long term. We spend plenty of money on education in Michigan, but overall as a state, we aren’t getting results.
How funding is distributed needs to be predictable and stable for schools to plan for student impact. Funding also needs to be flexible. Every district is different and its needs are different. We need expectations for student outcomes that consider the fact that schools are currently over-burdened with compliance rules and regulations to qualify for needed funding.
We need to adopt a multiyear plan for school funding that includes a per-pupil, weighted formula. Instead of picking winners and losers based on political favors, we should fund students based on their needs (students who need more support should get more support). We should also stabilize funding by allowing districts to use either their current student count or a three-year average, whichever is higher, to determine their per-pupil funding.
Like many educators in Michigan, I’m in this fight for the long haul. We have the brightest students and some of the best teachers in the country in our state. They deserve the flexible, stable, predictable funding, the infrastructure, and the support they need to succeed. Let this be the year we finally solve the puzzle.
Related
Bridge welcomes guest columns from a diverse range of people on issues relating to Michigan and its future. The views and assertions of these writers do not necessarily reflect those of Bridge or The Center for Michigan. Bridge does not endorse any individual guest commentary submission. If you are interested in submitting a guest commentary, email your submission or idea to guestcommentary@bridgemi.com. Click here for details and submission guidelines.