GRANHOLM SIGNS EDUCATION BUDGET – Nov. 8,07

Governor Jennifer Granholm has signed the budget for K-12.

The School Aid budget is one of the larger budgets, providing $13 billion ($34.9 million general fund) for K-12 districts, intermediate school districts and charter schools. The budget is $900,000 ($90,400 general fund) smaller than the 2006-07 budget.
Among the key provisions is increasing the foundation grant to $8,433 per student. Districts at or above that level would receive an additional $48 per student. Those receiving $7,108, the foundation grant last year, would receive $96 per student. Districts between the old and new foundation would receive an increase between the maximum and minimum increase.

Funding for early childhood programs is increased to $3,400 per child from $3,300.
Declining enrollment districts will share in $20 million in assistance. And ISDs will share $80.9 million, a 1 percent increase.

But Ms. Granholm VETOED $1.3 million for transportation subsidies for large, rural districts (greater than 200 square miles with fewer than 5 children per square mile). During the implementation of Proposal A, all districts that were receiving separate transportation dollars had that funding rolled into their foundation allowance," she said in the veto letter. "Since that time, districts have received significant foundation allowance increases."