Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer has signed a $23 billion education budget for fiscal year 2025, despite facing criticism from education advocates over certain funding aspects.

Officials have announced that the budget, effective October 1, 2024, marks a record high for K-12 education investment, including guaranteed tuition for high school graduates attending community college.

Key allocations in the budget include an additional $400 per pupil ($600 million total), $134 million for student mental health and school safety, $200 million for free student breakfast and lunch, and $130 million to expand free pre-K for all 4-year-olds.

Moreover, the budget provides a 2.5% increase in funding for universities and community colleges, and $30 million to boost the Michigan Achievement Scholarship.

"This balanced education budget—my sixth—makes record-breaking investments to support our students, invest in our schools, and empower our educators," said Whitmer. "With access to free pre-K for all, record funding for students, free school meals, on-campus mental health resources, and tuition-free community college for every high school graduate, this budget will improve outcomes, lower costs, and strengthen our education system."

However, education groups have voiced concerns over the state's failure to increase district per-pupil funding in over a decade and the reduction in funds for student mental health. Last year’s budget allocated $328 million for mental health and school safety.

The education budget is part of the state's overall $83 billion budget, which lawmakers approved last month after a 19-hour session marked by disagreements among Democrats and school groups.

Democratic lawmakers pointed out potential savings in other areas, particularly with a reduced pension contribution rate for retirement benefits, estimated to save $598 million.

State Superintendent Michael Rice praised the funding support for at-risk students, rural districts, and English language learners but noted that the reduced mental health funding "will slow Michigan's recent momentum in addressing student mental health challenges."

"While we knew the budget could not match the last two due to the end of federal pandemic funding and a flattening of state revenue growth, the large decrease in funding dedicated to helping students with mental health challenges is disappointing," Rice said. "We will continue to work with the governor, the state legislature, educators, education organization partners, and others to address funding and staffing challenges to help improve Michigan children's education.