"The right to criticize government is also an obligation to know what you are talking about."

-Lent Upson, first director of Citizens Research Council

Special Biweekly Edition

Please add maureen.saxton@crcmich-newsletter.com to your safe sender/contact list

October 29, 2025

Changes in “At-risk” Student Counts Across Districts, FY2025 to FY2026

Source: Center for Educational Performance and Information; Citizens Research Council calculations

Michigan’s new K-12 budget provides a massive funding increase to local school districts for supplemental academic services for low-income and other students deemed at-risk of poor educational outcomes. However, the state’s hefty investment in “at-risk” students this year was not paired with major changes in transparency or accountability provisions for districts’ use and distribution of these resources.

That is unfortunate because, without additional guardrails, it is not clear whether the new dollars will reach the individual schools where “at-risk” students are enrolled and thereby improve the academic outcomes of the state’s most struggling learners.

IN A NUTSHELL

 -- Michigan’s new K-12 budget provides a massive funding increase to local school districts for supplemental academic services for low-income and other students deemed at-risk of poor educational outcomes..

 -- The Fiscal Year (FY)2026 School Aid budget represents a missed opportunity for policymakers to tie accountability and fiscal transparency improvements to a huge funding bump provided to local districts serving “at-risk” students.

 -- Policymakers should consider how to leverage future state investments in “at-risk” funding to move districts toward adoption of student-based budgeting systems to better ensure parents and the public that dedicated state dollars are making their way to the schools with the greatest needs.

Other Recent Council Briefs:

• It is Time to Revisit Michigan's Revenue Sharing Programs
• Revisiting the 1998 Seminal Bolt Decision
• Regulation of Large Livestock Farms is Not Working for Farmers or the Environment

Michigan budget exempts overtime, tips and Social Security from state taxes, 9&10 News (Oct. 28)

Businesses fund Whitmer’s overseas travel while getting billions in taxpayer incentives, Detroit News (October 26)

New Michigan road plan promises billions to bring smoother drive: Here’s how, Detroit Free Press (October 25)

CRC: Revenue sharing programs need a review, consider changes, Gongwer News (October 24)

Majority of Detroiters support admissions tax for concerts, sporting events, poll says, Detroit News (October 24)

New Michigan road plan promises billions to bring smoother drive: Here’s how, Detroit Free Press (October 24)

Flood touts budget deal, defends moves on higher ed funding, cannabis tax, Gongwer News (October 24)

Op-Ed: Rethink the $1 per-ticket surcharge proposed on DCFC tickets, Bridge Detroit (October 23)

Citizens Research Council: Six Things You Should Know about State Budget, Michigan Business Network (October 22)

The numbers don’t lie, or they do? Hall insists FY ’26 budget smaller, more cuts coming next year, Gongwer (October 22)

‘Raid’ on school aid hits new high in Michigan budget, Crain’s Detroit Business (October 22)

One Big Beautiful Bill: New law cuts seniors’ taxes, jeopardizes their health care, Traverse City Business News (October 2025)

Does Volatile Corporate Income Tax Revenue Put Road Funding Deal At Risk? MIRS News (Oct. 17)

CRC: K-12, Local Governments Hit Hardest by Funding Shift for Roads Plan, Detroit Regional Chamber (October 17)

Michigan removes state taxes on tips and overtime pay to match new federal exemptions, WZMQ (October 17)

Michigan’s first chief growth officer leaves post — here’s what she’s doing next, Detroit Free Press (October 17)

Report: Michigan’s budget is actually $84 billion, larger than lawmakers previously said, WLNS-TV6 (October 16)

Short-staffed, untrained, many Michigan townships struggle to control finances, Interlochen Public Radio (October 16)

What’s The Deal With Provider Taxes In FY ’26 Budget? MIRS (October 16)

CRC: K-12, local governments hit hardest by funding shift for roads plan, Gongwer (October 16)

Michigan’s new budget is larger than it appeared, report finds, Detroit News (October 16)

CRC: K-12, local governments hit hardest by funding shift for roads plan, Gongwer (October 16)