Michigan increased funding for English learners by $12.5M. Advocates say a big gap persists.

September 14, 2026

Michigan recently increased state funding for English language learners by $12. 5 million, bringing the total budget to $75. 3 million, but a significant gap remains in how the state allocates these resources.

Who is affected

Approximately 104,200 English language learners enrolled in Michigan public schools (7.3% of all students)
Around 24,000 English learners who score above certain proficiency levels but still require services
Students scoring between 3.0 and 3.9 on WIDA assessments who receive only $225 in additional funding
Students scoring 4.0 and above on WIDA who receive no additional state funding
School districts including Detroit Public Schools Community District (7,400+ English learners), Troy School District (1,900 English learners), and Hamtramck Public Schools
District superintendents and administrators (Richard Machesky of Troy, Nikolai Vitti of Detroit, Afrin Alavi of Hamtramck)
English as a second language teachers and English language development specialists
The anonymous Cuban student at Western International High School and others in similar situations

What action is being taken

Michigan lawmakers increased state funding for English language learners by $12.5 million in the current budget
Districts are using general fund dollars to supplement inadequate state ELL funding (Troy used 90% general fund dollars in 2025-26)
Detroit Public Schools Community District is using money from its literacy lawsuit settlement to hire 58 multilingual academic interventionists at 15 schools
The Michigan Department of Education is reviewing its monitoring and reporting process to ensure schools' compliance with the new law
Districts are now automatically receiving weighted funding under the new state law framework
Districts are required to report how they are using ELL funding to support English learners

Why it matters

This funding gap has significant educational and equity implications for Michigan's growing English learner population. Students approaching English proficiency may be conversational but still struggle academically with vocabulary, grammar, abstract discussions, and core content without adequate support. The inadequate funding prevents students from receiving the instruction they need to successfully transition out of English learner programs, contributing to the fact that nearly half of Michigan's English learners remain in specialized programs after six years. Achievement gaps persist, with only 10.4% of English learners in Detroit meeting or exceeding English proficiency on state tests in 2025, and their four-year graduation rate trailing the district average. Michigan's approach makes it unique among all 49 states that fund ELL services as the only one excluding some students from its funding formula, and the state has historically ranked among the worst in the nation for ELL funding even as its English learner population has grown by more than 12,300 students in the last decade.

What's next

Lawmakers stated in this year's state budget they want to increase ELL funding every year until it meets the amounts recommended in a 2021 third-party report (ranging from $3,500 to $7,500 per student), but they didn't set a timeline to reach the goal
The Michigan Department of Education is reviewing its monitoring and reporting process to ensure schools' compliance
Districts will continue to advocate for equitable funding for ELL students

Read full article from source: bridgedetroit.com