MCAN applauds continued commitment to education in fiscal year 2027 state budget

LANSING, Mich. — Earlier today, the Michigan legislature passed its fiscal year 2027 budget bills, which the governor is expected to sign. Michigan College Access Network is excited to see increased funding for K-12 and higher education, continuing vital investments in our students.

Budget items related to MCAN’s priorities include:

• One-year, $25 million increase in Michigan Reconnect earmarked for program expansion by lowering the eligibility age from 25 to 21, for a total of $67 million
• $232 million increase in funding for Michigan Achievement Scholarship and Community College Guarantee, for a total of $532 million
• $1 million in Michigan Achievement Scholarship funding earmarked for Ticket to Tuition FAFSA completion sweepstakes
• 4% one-time increase for community college and public university operations, with community college funding allocated by a weighted model that considers student success, among other factors
• Additional $323 million to increase the K-12 per-pupil foundation allowance by $250 per pupil, a 2.5% increase, for a total of $10,300 per pupil
• $40 million to encourage more students to work toward receiving college credit through dual enrollment opportunities
• $2.8 million to increase the number of students who participate in Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, and College-Level Examination Program
• $46 million for K-12 career and technical education, a $4.3 million increase
• $10 million to support FAFSA completion grants
• $48.3 million allocated for Promise Zones, an increase of $5 million
• $43.5 million increase in the Tuition Incentive Program, for a total of $165.8 million
• $1.95 million for higher education in prison
• Continued $3 million appropriation for MCAN

Statement from MCAN Executive Director Ryan Fewins-Bliss:

“We knew this would be a tighter budget than previous years, and we are encouraged to see the legislature and the governor’s office continue to prioritize K-12 and higher education. In particular, the expansion of Michigan Reconnect opens new economic opportunities for tens of thousands of Michigan adults, and we encourage the legislature to make this expansion permanent. Continued support of key programs like the Michigan Achievement Scholarship and Community College Guarantee, FAFSA completions, Promise Zones, and higher education in prison demonstrate a sustained commitment to our Sixty by 30 attainment goal and helping more students of all ages reach their educational and career goals.

“College affordability is an important issue, and MCAN appreciates the state’s funding of dual enrollment; Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, and College-Level Examination Program; and career and technical education. These programs offer pathways to earning free or reduced-cost college credits while in high school, greatly reducing the time and money needed to earn a degree or certificate.

“MCAN also supports the accountability measures built into community college funding. This approach strengthens institutional capacity while rewarding student-centered outcomes, using a performance funding formula that values certificate and degree completion and student success. Similarly, the 20% increase in the weighted funding formula for K-12 funding is a win for equity, ensuring more funding goes to the students who need it most.

“While the legislature missed its July 1 constitutional deadline, we’re thankful that this budget didn’t get dragged out for months, like the previous year. MCAN urges the legislature to explore common sense reforms to adjust our budget process and give more stability to our schools and other vital institutions that rely on consistent and timely funding for their own budgets.

“Looking at how far apart the initial budget proposals were, MCAN applauds the legislature, the governor’s office, and their staff members for coming together to create a bipartisan budget that includes forward-thinking investments in our students. Improving educational outcomes for our students builds a more skilled workforce, stronger communities, and a more vibrant economy for all Michiganders.”

Click here to see MCAN's College Access and Success Budget Tracker