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House adopts school-aid conference report, sets foundation allowance at $10,050 per pupil
Summary
The Michigan House adopted the conference report on Senate Bill 166, raising the foundation allowance to $10,050 per pupil and approving increases for special education, at-risk student funding and school mental-health and safety resources; the measure passed on a 104–5 roll call.
Lede: The Michigan House on Oct. 2 adopted the conference report on Senate Bill 166, advancing a school-aid budget that sets the foundation allowance at $10,050 per pupil and passed the conference report by voice-supported roll call then announced at 104 ayes and 5 nays.
Nut graf: Supporters said the plan directs record per-pupil funding to K–12 classrooms while restoring school-safety, mental-health and targeted support programs; critics in the chamber said some priorities shifted toward higher education and that CTE and STEM allocations were treated differently.
Body: Representative Glanville, speaking in support of the conference report, framed the budget as a compromise that nevertheless centers students and educators. "Every teacher knows that their job is not to ensure that most kids succeed, but that every child succeeds," she said, arguing the package funds universal school meals, fully funds the special education foundation allowance and increases at-risk student funding by 25 percent. Glanville also criticized what she described as a shift of "hundreds of millions of dollars" toward higher education at the expense of some K–12 priorities and noted that per-pupil funding in Michigan remains below the national average she cited.
Representative Kelly, chair of the School Aid and Department of Education budget, urged colleagues to support SB 166 and said the plan "delivers $10,050 per pupil, the highest foundation allowance in Michigan history." She attributed the ability to increase classroom funding to eliminating "ghost positions" and cutting waste and said the budget restores funding for school safety and mental health so local districts can hire counselors and make security improvements.
The Speaker put the question on adoption of the conference report and a record roll call was taken; the clerk announced 104 ayes and 5 nays and the Speaker declared the conference report adopted. The committee of conference had earlier reported agreement on substitutes and the bill title; conferees included Senators Camilleri, Anthony and Bumstead and Representatives Bolin, Kelly and Glanville.
Ending: With the conference report adopted, the House moved on to messages from the Senate and subsequent concurrence votes on other bills. The transcript records the adoption but does not show further procedural steps for SB 166 in this session.
