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Michigan Students Were Promised Relief—Now $42 Million in Lifesaving Education Funding is at Risk  

April 8, 2025

Flint City School District is facing significant financial strain after the U.S. Department of Education abruptly moved up the deadline for federal reimbursement requests tied to pandemic relief by one year, retroactively enforcing it without public warning. This decision places nearly $42 million meant for Michigan schools in jeopardy, with Flint potentially losing $1. 4 million of its expected $15.

Who is affected

  • Flint City School District and its students
  • 27 Michigan school districts with active contracts
  • Detroit Public School District, which relies on federal funds for 32% of its budget
  • Low-income students who benefit from Title I funding
  • Students who rely on free lunch programs
  • Students with disabilities who receive special education services
  • Black, brown, and low-income students in communities like Flint, Benton Harbor, and Pontiac

What action is being taken

  • The Michigan Department of Education is advocating for the promised funds
  • State Superintendent Michael Rice has issued a public statement emphasizing that a change in federal leadership should not override standing commitments
  • Districts can request individual extensions by emailing the department with detailed justifications
  • Michigan's Board of Education President Pamela Pugh is publicly opposing the decision

Why it matters

  • The funding supports essential infrastructure projects like HVAC upgrades, window replacements, and ventilation systems that protect student health and safety
  • Without the promised federal reimbursements, districts may be forced to reduce instructional expenditures, diminish savings, or both
  • The decision disproportionately impacts communities that were already suffering from environmental and systemic injustice before the pandemic
  • The funding cuts could affect special education resources, free lunch programs, and other critical services for vulnerable students
  • About $24.2 million already paid out may also be at risk according to the Michigan Department of Education

What's next

  • No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: Michigan Chronicle