LANSING — The Michigan Association of School Boards (MASB) and Michigan Association of Superintendents and Administrators (MASA) issued a statement Thursday regarding the looming July 1 deadline for Michigan lawmakers to reach a finalized budget for Fiscal Year 2027.

House Speaker Matt Hall said Tuesday that a framework agreement on the budget has been signed, but both the Michigan Association of School Boards (MASB) and the Michigan Association of School Administrators (MASA) say they remain in the dark.

“It was announced early this week that the Legislature and the Governor have reached a framework for the state budget,” Jennifer Smith, MASB director of government relations, said. “However, since then, there has been no further information on spending levels or details about what the final School Aid Budget will entail.”

Escanaba Area Public Schools Superintendent Coby Fletcher emphasized the importance of timely state funding decisions

“A timely School Aid Fund budget is essential for Michigan schools to plan effectively for the upcoming academic year,” Fletcher said. “When the state delays action, local districts are forced to budget conservatively. By the time the final numbers are done, it is often too late to adjust staffing or programs efficiently. State law explicitly establishes a July 1 completion target for this exact reason.”

With the deadline just four days away, MASB and MASA are urging the Legislature and Governor Gretchen Whitmer to reach an agreement quickly, “even if that includes staying in Lansing this weekend to get it done,” the associations said.

Both associations reportedly support a weighted funding approach for English Language Learners and At-Risk students, an inflationary increase in the per-pupil allowance, stabilization in pupil counts to help declining enrollment districts, changes to school safety and mental health funding language to allow more schools to take advantage of it and no additional appropriation of K-12 funding to our higher education system.

“Completing a responsible and balanced School Aid budget should be the Legislature’s only priority right now,” MASB and MASA concluded. “There are 5 days left; schools deserve certainty in funding as they prepare for the next school year. Michigan’s school leaders are willing to work with the Legislature to ensure the state delivers a budget that truly invests in Michigan’s students and schools and is on time.”

Michigan’s statutory July 1 budget deadline was passed in 2019 to move the budget process earlier and ensure schools get notice on how much state funding they would receive each year.

Fletcher added, “Unfortunately, Lansing has routinely ignored this statutory deadline, creating unnecessary confusion and guesswork. This approach is unacceptable, and our legislators and governor must prioritize collaboration to deliver a timely budget that supports our classrooms.”

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Sophie Vogelmann can be reached at 906-786-2021 or svogelmann@dailypress.net.