More funding for schools

State Rep. Matt Lori said the equity gap that exists between larger and smaller school districts was narrowed this week, with House approval of Bill 5314, which establishes the School-Aid Fund for the coming fiscal year.

Besides adding $50 in per-pupil funding for all students, the bill also designates another $125 per pupil for smaller schools, closing the equity gap that exists between school districts, Lori said.

Total funding for education in the next fiscal year is $13.9 billion, which is a 4.1 percent increase from last year, Lori said. Early childhood education will receive an additional $65 million, which makes Michigan the leading state in the nation in pre-K funding, he noted.