Charter and cyber school leaders tell appropriations subcommittee funding shortfalls hurt high‑need students

LANSING — Leaders from charter and cyber public schools told the House Appropriations Committee’s Subcommittee on School Aid and the Department of Education that the state’s proposed education budget would leave cyber charter students and many high‑need pupils funded at lower levels than their district counterparts.

The testimony came March 2025 as the subcommittee heard presentations from the Michigan Association of Public School Academies (MAPSA), Uplift Michigan Online School, Success Virtual Learning Centers and Copper Island Academy. Chair Representative Kelly said it is his intent “to restore that promise made 30 years ago for equitable funding, regardless of where a student chooses to go.”

Why it matters: witnesses said charter and cyber schools disproportionately serve students at high risk of academic failure — including students living in poverty, students with disabilities and students experiencing housing instability — and that reduced funding will directly limit schools’ ability to provide wraparound services they say are necessary for success.

Dan Quisenberry, president of the Michigan Association of Public School Academies, told the committee that charter public schools are funded out of the state’s per‑pupil foundation grant and receive no local millage or property tax revenue for facilities. “The state of Michigan, the legislature every year would provide equitable, consistent, and student centered funding for all public schools and public school students, including charter public schools and cyber public schools, through that per pupil foundation grant,”…