State Rep. Gary Howell, of North Branch, voted on Thursday in support of the Legislature’s school aid budget, which includes the largest ever investment for students in the state’s history.

Under the plan, per-pupil funding would increase for every student in Lapeer County by $240. In comparison, the governor’s proposal would have capped that foundation allowance at only $180 per student. The adopted budget provides a total of $15.2 billion for K-12 schools. This amounts to a total increase of more than $300 million in the school foundation allowance.

“I am pleased to have passed a K-12 budget with the overwhelming support of both Republican and Democratic House members. However, it is unfortunate that the governor chose not to participate in the negotiations to complete the school budget,” Howell said. “Long before I came to Lansing, I served our Lapeer County students as president of both the North Branch School Board and the Lapeer County Intermediate Board of Education. My commitment to our public schools has not wavered as your state representative. I am proud to have fought for and won this record funding for our public schools.”

The Legislature-approved plan also:

• Increases Career Technical Education funding to $50 per student and includes $16 million in equipment grants for a total of nearly $74 million in CTE investment.
• Triples the investment in literacy coaches.
• Includes a total investment of $510 million in at-risk students.
• Nearly triples funding for English language learners.
• Includes $60 million more than last year to reimburse school districts for special education costs.
• Provides $7 million for isolated school district funding and includes a tiered formula to allow for a wider distribution of funds to students in rural districts.
• Includes additional investments in school safety grants and school-based health and mental health programs.

“I am pleased that we are providing K-12 schools the most money they have ever had, including additional support for our most vulnerable student populations,” Howell said. “We also are opening more opportunities for skilled trades training, which will prepare the next generation for some of the highest-demand jobs in the state.”

The plan now heads to the governor’s desk for her decision.

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