Lawsuit filed on behalf of DPSCD students seeks equitable funding for the district

May 6, 2026

A new class-action lawsuit filed in Michigan state court alleges that the state has provided inadequate and inequitable funding to Detroit Public Schools Community District while burdening it with debt accumulated during state control. The suit, brought by attorney Gerard Mantese on behalf of DPSCD parents, demands increased state funding and elimination of legacy debt, citing poor building conditions, insufficient resources, and funding disparities compared to wealthier districts that receive more per-pupil funding. While DPSCD currently receives $10,050 per student—the standard base amount—the lawsuit argues this is insufficient given the district's $2.

Who is affected

Students enrolled in Detroit Public Schools Community District (DPSCD)
A parent of two DPSCD students who filed the lawsuit
Other "similarly situated students" seeking class-action status
DPSCD staff working in inadequate facilities
Governor Gretchen Whitmer (named as defendant)
State Superintendent Glenn Maleyko (named as defendant)
Members of the Michigan State Board of Education (named as defendants)
DPSCD Superintendent Nikolai Vitti and district administrators

What action is being taken

Attorney Gerard Mantese has filed a lawsuit in state court seeking class-action status
The lawsuit is seeking to require the state to increase funding to DPSCD and eliminate legacy debt
The State Board of Education met in closed session to receive legal guidance about the lawsuit
The State Board voted to direct board chair Pamela Pugh to seek guidance from the Michigan Attorney General's office
DPSCD is investing approximately $700 million of federal pandemic relief funding in facilities as part of its facility master plan

Why it matters

This lawsuit matters because it highlights persistent educational inequity in Michigan's funding system, where Detroit students receive the base per-pupil funding while wealthier districts receive more due to a grandfather clause from the 1990s. The case challenges whether the state is fulfilling its obligation to provide equal educational opportunities when DPSCD faces a $2.1 billion infrastructure deficit, poor building conditions (including extreme temperatures, mold, and non-functional bathrooms), and debt accumulated during years of state control. The outcome could fundamentally reshape how Michigan funds education and addresses historical inequities, potentially affecting resource distribution across the entire state and determining whether the state bears responsibility for damage caused during its oversight of Detroit schools.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: bridgedetroit.com