BY LILY GUINEY
MI
Apr 23, 2026
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Key Points
Superintendents urge lawmakers to pass 2026-27 budget by July 1 deadline, but say June 1 is doable
K-12 Alliance and superintendents called on the Legislature to stop diverting School Aid Fund dollars to non-public school expenses
New polling suggests lawmakers' use of School Aid Fund dollars for other purposes is highly unpopular
Superintendents from across Michigan began the call Thursday for lawmakers to pass the 2026-27 budget by the beginning of summer so local districts can plan for the next school year.
During a virtual press conference hosted by the K-12 Alliance of Michigan, superintendents also criticized the use of School Aid Fund for higher education. The budgets proposed by the House and Senate both use School Aid Fund for universities and community colleges.
“We all enjoy strong partnerships with the institutions of higher education. That said, K-12 has a responsibility to provide a free and appropriate public education. That means that we are dependent upon the budget that is delivered to us from the state of Michigan,” Marquette-Alger RESA Superintendent Gregory Nyen said. “Our higher education partners (can) increase tuition to cover their costs. We don't have that luxury. Locally, right now, this conversation is front and center as our higher ed partner in our backyard is building beautiful new structures and our largest (school district) is going for a $60 million bond to cover infrastructure improvements that are probably two or three decades behind schedule.”
