Students and parents urge concussion education and faster special-education funding reforms

A student from Cranbrook High School and multiple parents urged the Michigan State Board of Education on Tuesday to strengthen classroom instruction and statewide funding for students with disabilities.

Roshni Sental told the board she is asking the State Board to add concussion and traumatic brain injury (TBI) education to the Michigan Health Education Standards for grades 6–8 and 9–12, calling concussions “one of the most prevalent yet undiagnosed injuries for young people” and urging instruction on signs, long-term risks and return-to-learn accommodations. “Every student in Michigan deserves to graduate knowing how to recognize a brain injury, how to handle it, and why reporting it matters,” Sental said.

Advocates and parents echoed the call for stronger supports. Jennifer Giovanna, a parent calling from Bloomfield Hills, described staffing shortages and warned that a projected state budget deficit will force reductions in paraprofessionals and social workers who provide essential supports for students with disabilities. “Without stronger investment, accountability, and consistency in special education, our most vulnerable students will continue to fall through the cracks,” Giovanna said.

Marissa Rizzilera, a Grand Rapids parent, urged the board to endorse the Michigan special-education finance reform blueprint, including creation of a statewide high-cost fund for students with the highest support needs and a move to a student funding model that aligns resources with need and abolishes millage caps that sustain local funding gaps.

Sierra Cameron of the Autism Alliance of Michigan praised recent budget acknowledgement of funding for students with disabilities but warned that acknowledgement must become action. “Students with disabilities are students first, and their needs must be a part of the conversation from the beginning,” Cameron said.

The board did not take immediate policy action on the public comments during the meeting. Several board members later moved and approved a resolution urging the Legislature to provide funding for the board to carry out statutory and constitutional duties; that resolution passed after edits were adopted by the board.

What’s next: The board suggested staff and board members will continue outreach and work with legislators on budget language. The comments will be part of the record as the department and board continue discussions about a special-education committee and finance changes.