The Time is Now: COVID-19 and Fair Funding

New York

EdTrust–New York is a statewide education policy and advocacy organization focused first and foremost on doing right by New York’s children. Although many organizations speak up for the adults employed by schools and colleges, we advocate for students, especially those whose needs and potential are often overlooked.

West

EdTrust–West is committed to dismantling the racial and economic barriers embedded in the California education system. Through our research and advocacy, EdTrust-West engages diverse communities dedicated to education equity and justice and increases political and public will to build an education system where students of color and multilingual learners, especially those experiencing poverty, will thrive.

Massachusetts

The Education Trust team in Massachusetts convenes and supports the Massachusetts Education Equity Partnership (MEEP), a collective effort of more than 20 social justice, civil rights and education organizations from across the Commonwealth working together to promote educational equity for historically underserved students in our state’s schools.

Education Equity

P-12

The Time is Now: COVID-19 and Fair Funding

July 11, 2020 by EdTrust-Midwest

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Michigan families and educators are worried about their students’ unfinished learning, while state- and district-level leaders face unprecedented decisions to safely prepare for the fall and address the potentially devastating impact of the public health and economic crises on education.

Tragically, Michigan is already among the worst states in the country for equitable funding.

For the future prosperity of Michigan and the success of our students, we must commit to becoming a more equitable education state, rather than worsening the gaps between Michigan’s rich and poor districts – and further limiting opportunities for our most vulnerable children.

In this brief, we lay out how Michigan can do that in three key ways:

Prioritize investment in public education over other areas of the budget, including by reversing decisions to divert money from the School Aid Fund.
Protect funding for vulnerable students, including by ensuring any state budget cuts, if necessary, are done fairly and equitably.
Ensure transparency and accountability by making a real commitment to have dollars reach the children for whom they are intended.

Download the Report

Technical Appendix