State Rep. James DeSana (R-Carleton) today expressed frustration over continued use of K-12 school aid funding for higher education, calling for an end to the decade-long practice and a renewed focus on supporting Michigan’s public schools.

“The School Aid Fund was created to support K-12 students, not to supplement university budgets,” said DeSana. “Higher education already receives its own allocation through the state budget. It’s unacceptable for universities to funnel resources away from our elementary, middle, and high schools.”

The ongoing redirection of approximately $1 billion from the School Aid Fund to Michigan’s universities was intended to be a temporary measure but has continued over the course of 10 years.

“While I look toward preserving the School Aid Fund permanently, I am committed to starting this process in this year’s budget by advocating for higher education to be completely funded through the General Fund, which was done for decades before previous legislatures and administrations made a ‘one time’ decision that has now been in place for years,” said DeSana. “I stand with my local school superintendents in supporting that these dollars be returned to the classrooms where they belong.”