On Tuesday, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed her seventh record education budget into law. The balanced, bipartisan fiscal year 2026 (FY26) school aid budget delivers record per-pupil funding of $10,050, continues free school meals for all to lower costs for families, boosts literacy supports, funds free pre-K and community college for all to save Michiganders money, builds up campuses, and delivers recruitment and retention bonuses to educators to put more money in their pockets. The FY26?Education Omnibus budget totals $24.1?billion, with $19.5 billion from the School Aid Fund.
“This education budget will help our kids learn, grow, and thrive from pre-K through college or trade school and beyond,” said Whitmer. “With record per-pupil funding of more than $10,000 for every child in every school, free breakfast and lunch for all to save parents almost $1,000 a year, per kid, free pre-K and free community college for all, and even more literacy support, we’re making sure every student has the tools and opportunities they need to succeed right here in Michigan without breaking the bank. We are supporting our hardworking educators with attraction and retention bonuses and free training programs to prepare even more skilled, qualified teachers for the classroom. Finally, we’re investing in our school, community college, and university campuses so they are even safer and better places for all our students.”
“This education budget will make a difference for kids in communities across Michigan and set future generations up for success,” said Michigan Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist II. “It builds on our historic investments in students, educators, and schools with unprecedented per-pupil funding and free breakfast and lunch for all 1.4 million public school students. We will keep students safe thanks to record funding for school safety and mental health, while exposing them to career opportunities through before- and after-school programs, expanded career and technical education, and apprenticeships. Let’s keep Standing Tall so that every student knows they can afford to stay and succeed in Michigan.”
“I’m proud that we held the line and worked across the aisle to successfully deliver another historic education budget that puts the real needs of students front and center,” said Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks (D-Grand Rapids). “By securing the highest ever per-pupil funding, continuing the widely successful universal school meals program, and boosting literacy programs and at-risk funding, this bipartisan budget illustrates our unwavering commitment to Michigan students, educators, and schools.”
“Michigan’s new education budget puts parents and kids first, and it’s about time we had a state budget that did that,” said Speaker of the House Matt Hall. “Past budgets were stuffed full of earmarks and regulations, some of which even paid out to for-profit companies by taking money out of the classroom. That’s not right, and I’m glad we were able to come together to turn that around. This plan gives new flexibility to local districts, empowers parents to guide their children’s future, funds free breakfast and lunch, and increases funding for smaller classroom sizes. Together, we gave schools a major boost as the new year gets underway.”
“This education budget puts Michigan students first—whether they’re starting preschool, learning to read, preparing for college, or training for good-paying jobs,” said State Budget Director Jen Flood. “Governor Whitmer is protecting critical classroom funding, supporting our educators, and keeping college within reach for more Michigan families. Even in a year where tough decisions have been made elsewhere, education remains a priority—it is the foundation of long-term growth for Michigan.”
“This education budget will help our kids learn, grow, and thrive from pre-K through college or trade school and beyond,” said Whitmer. “With record per-pupil funding of more than $10,000 for every child in every school, free breakfast and lunch for all to save parents almost $1,000 a year, per kid, free pre-K and free community college for all, and even more literacy support, we’re making sure every student has the tools and opportunities they need to succeed right here in Michigan without breaking the bank. We are supporting our hardworking educators with attraction and retention bonuses and free training programs to prepare even more skilled, qualified teachers for the classroom. Finally, we’re investing in our school, community college, and university campuses so they are even safer and better places for all our students.”
“This education budget will make a difference for kids in communities across Michigan and set future generations up for success,” said Michigan Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist II. “It builds on our historic investments in students, educators, and schools with unprecedented per-pupil funding and free breakfast and lunch for all 1.4 million public school students. We will keep students safe thanks to record funding for school safety and mental health, while exposing them to career opportunities through before- and after-school programs, expanded career and technical education, and apprenticeships. Let’s keep Standing Tall so that every student knows they can afford to stay and succeed in Michigan.”
“I’m proud that we held the line and worked across the aisle to successfully deliver another historic education budget that puts the real needs of students front and center,” said Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks (D-Grand Rapids). “By securing the highest ever per-pupil funding, continuing the widely successful universal school meals program, and boosting literacy programs and at-risk funding, this bipartisan budget illustrates our unwavering commitment to Michigan students, educators, and schools.”
“Michigan’s new education budget puts parents and kids first, and it’s about time we had a state budget that did that,” said Speaker of the House Matt Hall. “Past budgets were stuffed full of earmarks and regulations, some of which even paid out to for-profit companies by taking money out of the classroom. That’s not right, and I’m glad we were able to come together to turn that around. This plan gives new flexibility to local districts, empowers parents to guide their children’s future, funds free breakfast and lunch, and increases funding for smaller classroom sizes. Together, we gave schools a major boost as the new year gets underway.”
“This education budget puts Michigan students first—whether they’re starting preschool, learning to read, preparing for college, or training for good-paying jobs,” said State Budget Director Jen Flood. “Governor Whitmer is protecting critical classroom funding, supporting our educators, and keeping college within reach for more Michigan families. Even in a year where tough decisions have been made elsewhere, education remains a priority—it is the foundation of long-term growth for Michigan.”
