FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 15, 2026

CONTACT: Adam Bitely
(202) 689-9266
abitely@bellwetherpr.com

LANSING, Mich. – Peter Spadafore, executive director of the Michigan Alliance for Student Opportunity (The Alliance), issued the following statement following today’s Consensus Revenue Estimating Conference:

“Today’s Consensus Revenue Estimating Conference builds on the sobering picture that emerged in January: Michigan faces constrained revenue growth and increasing demands. The state will be asked to do more with less, and how lawmakers respond to that challenge will define students’ outcomes for years to come.

“Even in a tight fiscal environment, education is an investment in Michigan’s future, not a line item to cut. Students in poverty, students with disabilities, and English language learners don’t represent optional priorities. They represent Michigan’s future. The Senate got this right. Its weighted foundation allowance has the backing of virtually every education stakeholder in Michigan, and the House has no excuse not to send it to the Governor’s desk.

“Equally clear is the urgency of the calendar. The July 1 deadline is 46 days away. School districts cannot plan, cannot hire, cannot budget, cannot prepare, without knowing what state funding will look like. Missing that deadline, as the state did last year, doesn’t just create administrative headaches; it creates real instability for students, educators, and families who deserve better.

“Michigan’s lawmakers have both the obligation and the opportunity to get this right. Complete the budget on time. Keep students at the center. The decisions made in the coming weeks will echo far beyond this fiscal year.”

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The Michigan Alliance for Student Opportunity works to build an equitable foundation for education, where every student in Michigan, regardless of circumstance, is equipped to succeed after graduation. Learn more at mialliance.com.