Education Budget Signed Into Law

LANSING — Free Breakfast and Lunch for all students was protected in the recent budget signed into law this week by Governor Gretchen Whitmer despite an earlier push by the Republican-led State House of Representatives to roll them back. In addition, the newly signed budget includes a $10,000 per pupil funding formula.

According to a release from the Governor’s Office, the balanced, bipartisan fiscal year 2026 (FY26) school aid budget delivers record per-pupil funding of $10,050, continues free school meals for all to lower costs for families, boosts literacy supports, funds free pre-K and community college for all to save Michiganders money, builds up campuses, and delivers recruitment and retention bonuses to educators to put more money in their pockets. The FY26 Education Omnibus budget totals $24.1 billion, with $19.5 billion from the School Aid.

What They’re Saying

“This education budget will help our kids learn, grow, and thrive from pre-K through college or trade school and beyond,” said Governor Whitmer. “With record per-pupil funding of more than $10,000 for every child in every school, free breakfast and lunch for all to save parents almost $1,000 a year, per kid, free pre-K and free community college for all, and even more literacy support, we’re making sure every student has the tools and opportunities they need to succeed right here in Michigan without breaking the bank. We are supporting our hardworking educators with attraction and retention bonuses and free training programs to prepare even more skilled, qualified teachers for the classroom. Finally, we’re investing in our school, community college, and university campuses so they are even safer and better places for all our students.”

“I’m proud that we held the line and worked across the aisle to successfully deliver another historic education budget that puts the real needs of students front and center,” said Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks (D-Grand Rapids). “By securing the highest ever per-pupil funding, continuing the widely successful universal school meals program, and boosting literacy programs and at-risk funding, this bipartisan budget illustrates our unwavering commitment to Michigan students, educators, and schools.”

“Michigan’s new education budget puts parents and kids first, and it’s about time we had a state budget that did that,” said Speaker of the House Matt Hall. “Past budgets were stuffed full of earmarks and regulations, some of which even paid out to for-profit companies by taking money out of the classroom. That’s not right, and I’m glad we were able to come together to turn that around. This plan gives new flexibility to local districts, empowers parents to guide their children’s future, funds free breakfast and lunch, and increases funding for smaller classroom sizes. Together, we gave schools a major boost as the new year gets underway.”

“This education budget puts Michigan students first—whether they’re starting preschool, learning to read, preparing for college, or training for good-paying jobs,” said State Budget Director Jen Flood. “Governor Whitmer is protecting critical classroom funding, supporting our educators, and keeping college within reach for more Michigan families. Even in a year where tough decisions have been made elsewhere, education remains a priority—it is the foundation of long-term growth for Michigan.”

“I am incredibly proud of the bipartisan school budget that’s being signed into law today,” said State Senate Darrin Camilleri (D-Trenton), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on K-12. “Senate Democrats worked hand in hand with Governor Whitmer to negotiate a budget that builds on our most successful programs – maintaining free breakfast and lunch for all students, increasing funding for at-risk schools investing in mental health and school safety grants, and raising our per pupil payment to a record high. We still have a lot of work to do, but this budget deserves credit for its sanity and clarity during this period in our country and the ongoing political chaos in Washington DC. I look forward to building on this progress in the coming years and making Michigan an event better place to raise a family and to go to school.”

“We are deeply grateful for the Governor’s continued commitment to Michigan’s young people, and for the bipartisan support we achieved through the FY26 budget process,” said Erin Skene-Pratt, Executive Director, Michigan After School Partnership (MASP). This investment in before- and afterschool programs, as well as summer learning opportunities, reflects a clear understanding that learning doesn’t end when the school day does. By supporting school-time and out-of-school-time programs together, our state is giving every child—no matter their ZIP code—the chance to learn, grow, and thrive.”

Budget Details