LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – A recent report released this month by the non-profit Education Trust-Midwest stated that a lack of funding hurts communities with a higher percentage of low-income students.

Report findings.

The report states: “Low teacher salaries in Michigan contribute to the teacher shortage problem, worsening inequities in high-poverty districts that have trouble competing for talent with peer districts…Put simply, districts cannot hire and retain high-quality teachers without adequate and fair funding. To improve teacher attraction and retention, Michigan needs to support competitive salaries for teachers, especially for those working in districts with higher concentrations of poverty.”

MORE NEWS: Will California Gov. Newsom’s Fire Troubles Ignite Michigan Gov. Whitmer’s White House Dreams?

One of the larger myths in this state about school funding is that poor communities have poorly-funded school districts. Communities with a higher percentage of low-income students have school districts that are funded at a much higher level than the state average. The state of Michigan and the federal government give extra money to school districts with a higher percentage of “economically disadvantaged” students, or students who receive some form of government subsidy.

The numbers breakdown.

Benton Harbor’s school district (95% of students economically disadvantaged), Flint (92% economically disadvantaged), Saginaw (86% economically disadvantaged) and Pontiac (80% economically disadvantaged) all have many low-income students.

All four school districts are funded at levels far above the state average.

Benton Harbor ($31,155 per pupil), Flint ($29,640 per pupil), Pontiac ($28,825 per pupil) and Saginaw ($21,186 per pupil) are funded at far above the state per-pupil average of $14,475, according to the Michigan Department of Education’s most recent funding data from 2022-23.

There are two reasons for this.

Federal dollars that go to Michigan school districts are heavily weighted to benefit schools with more low-income students.

For example, Flint School District received $15,108 per pupil in federal dollars to its General Fund in 2022-23. Nearby Grand Blanc school district received $750 per pupil in federal money that year.

MORE NEWS: Road Trip of the Week: Belgian Dance Organ ‘Amaryllis’ Spins Music Across the Miles

In fact, the State of Michigan gives school districts in low-income communities extra money for “at-risk” students.

Detroit Public Schools received $60.2 million in additional funding from the state of Michigan in 2023-24 for “at risk” students, or $1,253 per pupil. West Bloomfield School District received $2.1 million in “at risk” funding or $431 per pupil, about three times less than Detroit.

West Bloomfield’s school district had 41% of its students rated at “economically disadvantaged,” meaning they receive some form of government subsidy. Detroit’s school district had 83% of its students categorized as “economically disadvantaged.”