Michigan’s Senate approved a budget that would give the state’s cyber schools 80 percent of the per-pupil budget that brick-and-mortar schools receive. Proponents of the online charter schools state such a cut could jeopardize the academic-related services they offer to their students, particularly LGBTQIA students.
According to the cyber school advocates, LGBTQIA and at-risk students thrive in the online academic environment because they do not have to deal with bullying as well as can alleviate some of their anxiety and depression, for which they don’t find in traditional school settings.
Skeptics and opponents of the funding the online schools state that the schools are using the LGBTQIA and at-risk students as a reason for the funding now because Democrats—who tend to fight for the rights of queer people–control the legislature.
A dozen online charter schools across the state teach 20,000 children from kindergarten through high school. Detroit Public Schools Community District launched its own school, DPSCD Virtual School, in 2021, mostly as a response to the pandemic. The grades range from first grade through high school.
Currently, The House would keep funding for Michigan’s online charter schools to current per-pupil levels, while the Senate would cut their funding to $7,760 per pupil, according to Chalkbeat Detroit.
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