Board hears fiscal-year 2026 budget comparisons, flags risks of rolling categoricals into block grant

Department officials presented a comparative review of three FY26 budget proposals — the governor’s executive recommendation, the Senate version and the House proposal — and framed the discussion around Michigan’s Strategic Education Plan Goal 8: adequate and equitable school funding.

Diane Golczynski, deputy superintendent for business, health and library services, and Olivia Ponte, legislative liaison, told the board the House plan leans toward a section 22f block grant that rolls dozens of categorical line items into a per-pupil payment. The department warned that consolidating funding for programs such as English learners, special education equalization and bilingual education into a single per-pupil payment could “water down” supports that serve students with different needs and that some programs are administratively best managed at the state level. The presenters cited examples and line-item differences: the House’s inclusion of 22f raised per-pupil amounts for…