Special Education Underfunded By $700 Million Annually In Michigan

Special education is underfunded by almost $700 million in 2015-2016 in Michigan when funding was $2.4 billion and expenditures were $3.1 billion. The shortage comes to about $11,498 per special education full-time equivalent or about $459 per Michigan student. Since school districts are required to cover special education services, the shortfall in funds comes out of their general operating budgets.

These findings were reported in “Special Education Funding Subcommittee Report” submitted to Lt. Governor Brian Calley in November 2017 by the subcommittee of the Lt. Governor’s Special Education Reform Task Force. The Task Force . . .