LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – The state of Michigan led the nation in the percentage increase in per-pupil school expenditures in 2022-23, according to the latest report from the National Education Association (NEA).

Often times, reporting on nationwide educational spending lags a few years behind.

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Michigan saw a 10.56% increase in per-pupil expenditures, increasing from $12,924 in 2021-22 to $14,289 in 2022-23. That was tops in the U.S. Louisiana was second at 10.09%.

Overall, Michigan’s K-12 funding jumped from $17.12 billion in 2021-22 to $20.2 billion in 2022-23, according to the Senate Fiscal Agency.

But there has been a huge infusion of money in K-12 education since Gov. Gretchen Whitmer took office in January 2019.

K-12 funding in Michigan has increased from $14.8 billion in 2018-19 to $20.6 billion in 2024-25. Federal pandemic funding has been a major reason for the increase.

Before the pandemic, the state received $1.75 billion in federal dollars in 2018-19. Federal money has increased to $2.96 billion (19-20), $7.87 billion (20-21), $2.44 billion (21-22), $2.56 billion (22-23), $2.22 billion (2023-24) and $2.27 billion (24-25) in the post pandemic years.

But state dollars have also increased to K-12 education. In 2018-19, the state earmarked about $13.85 billion to K-12 and that has increased to $18.37 billion in 2024-25.