As Michigan students prepare to walk through school doors next week, a storm of challenges looms for administrators who must navigate a turbulent mix of funding cuts, new educational mandates, and the ever-changing landscape of public education. In an already stretched system, the lack of budget increases leaves school leaders scrambling to fill gaps with limited resources. For those on the front lines—educators, parents, and students—the weight of these uncertainties is evident.
Without any increase to the per-pupil funding and a deep slash to student mental health and school safety budgets, administrators have no choice but to revise their own local budgets just days before the new school year begins. The pressures are immense, and advocates are urging the state legislature to pass a supplemental budget to offset these losses, but as students begin returning to classrooms, there is no immediate fix in sight.
“There has been a lot of movement amongst superintendents and school boards to shuffle things around to do everything they can to open with personnel and services in place so students are getting everything they need,” Bob McCann, executive director of the K-12 Alliance of Michigan said to Chalk Beat Detroit. “That’s a challenge when budgets don’t necessarily meet expectations.”
In addition to budget concerns, this year ushers in a wave of new mandates that will shape the education landscape for the foreseeable future. Some changes bring hope for more effective teaching environments, like reforms to teacher evaluations, which have garnered support from educators and advocates. For years, teachers have been held to a rigid system that heavily weighed standardized test scores in their evaluations, but that’s changing. Beginning in the 2024-25 school year, the percentage of a teacher’s evaluation based on student achievement will drop from 40% to 20%, giving local districts more say in how to measure teacher performance.
Other changes include the full implementation of updates to the Read by Grade Three law, which has sparked heated debates since its inception. Originally, the law mandated that students who were more than a grade level behind in reading be held back in the third grade. While the retention policy was repealed in February, other aspects of the law, such as individualized reading plans and support for literacy coaches, remain. This year, new reading assessments will be administered within the first 90 days for kindergarteners and within 30 days for students in grades one through three. It’s a shift aimed at catching literacy struggles early, but it still leaves some parents and educators on edge.
“Our hope is always that partisan politics get left out of these things,” said McCann. “It doesn’t serve schools or students. We’ll have to see how some of that turns out this year.”
A new school year also brings new efforts to tackle deeply rooted social issues. For the first time, schools across the state will be required to provide students in sixth through twelfth grades with education about sexual assault and harassment, including the concept of consent. It’s a push that acknowledges the realities many students face, but it also highlights the critical role schools play in educating young people beyond traditional academics.
In a significant move towards inclusivity, the state will begin collecting more accurate data on Indigenous and Native American students this year. This change is long overdue, as previous data collection methods did not allow students to fully identify their tribal affiliations, leading to underrepresentation in graduation rates, attendance, and other vital statistics. For many advocates, this is just the beginning of addressing the systemic issues facing Indigenous students in Michigan.
As the academic year begins, schools will also no longer be required to punish staff members for referring students to abortion services—a practice that had previously threatened districts with cuts to their state funding. It’s a reminder that public education does not operate in a vacuum, but instead exists at the intersection of deeply personal and often politicized issues.
Health and well-being remain a priority as well, with a new law requiring dental assessments for students enrolling in school for the first time. It’s part of a broader push to improve child health outcomes, recognizing that good health is fundamental to learning and overall success in school. The state is also expanding the number of school-based health centers this year, bringing vital services to districts across Michigan. These centers are more than just places for check-ups; they are lifelines for students who otherwise wouldn’t have access to healthcare, and their expansion could have a lasting impact on communities.
Yet, despite these new developments, one of the most pressing concerns remains the cuts to funding for mental health and school safety. School leaders are adamant that the legislature must pass a supplemental budget, warning that without it, the future of school counselors, nurses, and safety officers could be in jeopardy. The youth mental health crisis is no secret, and without adequate funding, schools may struggle to provide the necessary support systems.
Further complicating matters is a federal civil rights case involving the Michigan Department of Education (MDE). The case, stemming from the COVID-era shutdowns, claims that the MDE violated the rights of students with disabilities by not providing adequate services during remote learning. The outcome of this case could have significant financial implications, as non-compliance with federal civil rights laws puts the state at risk of losing federal funding for special education. With $461 million in federal aid on the line, the stakes couldn’t be higher.
Meanwhile, Michigan schools are also navigating a complex legal landscape around Title IX protections. A recent court ruling has blocked the enforcement of new regulations expanding protections for LGBTQ+ and pregnant students at 100 Michigan schools, throwing school leaders into a gray area where state laws and federal court orders conflict.
On top of these issues, the rapid rise of artificial intelligence (AI) is changing the face of education. More schools are beginning to integrate AI into their curriculums and administrative processes. While some districts, like Comstock Public Schools and Ypsilanti Community Schools, are embracing this technology, many are still unsure how to incorporate it responsibly. The MDE will be hosting workshops on AI in education this fall, a clear indication that this technology isn’t just a passing trend but a permanent fixture in the future of learning.
The year ahead also brings critical school board elections across the state, including two seats on the State Board of Education and three board seats in the Detroit Public Schools Community District. These races will determine the direction of public education in Michigan for years to come, and the community’s involvement in these elections will be key to ensuring that policies reflect the needs of the students they serve.
For Detroit Public Schools Community District (DPSCD), one of the biggest challenges is accommodating the growing population of migrant and refugee students. The district has expanded newcomer programs and opened a resource center at Western International High School, but many community members remain concerned that the district isn’t doing enough to provide essential services like translation and cultural support.
As this school year begins, Michigan’s public schools face a crossroads. The funding cuts, new mandates, and social challenges place a heavy burden on administrators, teachers, and students alike. But within these challenges lies an opportunity to reshape education in ways that are more inclusive, equitable, and responsive to the needs of all students—if the state is willing to invest in their future.