LANSING — Rep. Nancy Jenkins-Arno has endorsed a $24.3 billion education funding plan that includes record per-pupil spending, expanded safety requirements, and major policy restrictions for Michigan schools and universities.
The combined K-12 and higher education budgets were introduced in the Michigan House this week, with a focus on student success, school safety, infrastructure, and institutional oversight. Jenkins-Arno, who represents Rollin Township, supported both proposals as part of the broader Republican-backed fiscal package.
The $21.9 billion K-12 plan allocates $12,000 per public school student and provides $314.5 million in grants to reduce class sizes, improve literacy, consolidate facilities, and upgrade infrastructure. Schools must submit annual spending reports to qualify. The plan also incentivizes hiring school resource officers and prohibits curriculum content promoting race or gender stereotypes. Funding is blocked for DEI programs, and athletic participation rules prevent biological males from joining girls’ sports divisions.
The $2.4 billion higher education budget provides $5,500 per full-time, in-state undergraduate student and creates a Campus Investment Fund for infrastructure tied to enrollment. Administrative spending is capped at 10%, and schools must verify legal residency. Funding is withheld from institutions that separate graduation ceremonies by race or sex. Participation in women’s sports divisions is restricted to biological females.
The House plan awaits negotiation with the Senate and final budget approval ahead of the new fiscal year.
If adopted, the budget package would shift how Michigan funds schools, tying dollars to enrollment while enforcing new limits on diversity initiatives and campus practices. The education plan is expected to remain a focal point in ongoing legislative debates.