Exclusive: School programs concerned as budget stalls, cuts proposed – Education

(The Center Square) – Michigan school programs are calling for a quick resolution to ongoing delays over the 2025-2026 fiscal year budget, which is now 73 days overdue.

Erin Skene-Pratt, executive director of Michigan Afterschool Partnership, told The Center Square in an exclusive interview that it’s time for the legislature to act.

“The uncertainty is already creating disruption. Families are left wondering if afterschool programs will be there this year, and providers cannot hire staff or plan activities without knowing if funding will come through,” she said. “Without timely state support, trusted local providers are being forced to cut staff and shutter programs.”

The Michigan Afterschool Partnership is an organization that advocates for out-of-school time programs. It partners with schools, community organizations and policymakers throughout the state.

Developing K.I.D.S is one of those programs. Kimberly Johnson, the founder, president and CEO, of Developing K.I.D.S, also discussed these issues with The Center Square.

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“The budget delay is creating uncertainty,” Johnson said. “Without knowing if funding will be available, programs struggle to plan and risk cutting services or staff, which affects families who rely on them.”

Mercedes Raines, a Developing K.I.D.S parent, told The Center Square in an exclusive statement that the OST programs have helped her children develop “valuable skills.”

July 1 was the legally mandated statutory deadline for the finalization of the entire budget for the 2025-2026 fiscal year, including a separate K-12 education spending budget.

The new fiscal year is set to begin on Oct. 1, or in just 19 days. If a deal is not made by then on the budget, the state will face a government shutdown.

Skene-Pratt said these cuts are not just speculation, but they are already seeing them happening throughout the state.

“We already know about substantial cuts happening in programs across Michigan, and we expect many more as Oct. 1 approaches,” she said. “It’s worth a reminder that OST programs are not extras—they are part of the infrastructure that makes Michigan work.”

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In 2024, $75 million in state grant funding was awarded to 177 organizations throughout the state for OST programs. Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer called those programs at that time “critical.”

Democrats and Republicans have proposed drastically different budget plans for the future of education funding in the state, leading to a stalemate.

House Republicans successfully passed an education budget plan months ago that would overhaul the current funding system in an effort to send more monetary control back to local schools.

Supporters of the plan have labeled it “transformational.” Others have expressed concerns about cuts to different programs in the budget.

Johnson said increased and consistent funding is critical for OST programs.

“The ideal budgetary outcome is for the budget to include multi-year funding to increase stability and the ability to truly plan for high-quality programs for children,” she said. “It should include increased funding to serve more children. The need is greater than what the current funding supports.”

Skene-Pratt added it is important for lawmakers to remember that OST programs are not extra, but have benefits for communities, students, and families that are “nearly impossible to quantify.”

“After-school programs are not extras. They are essential to how Michigan works,” she said. “The investment is modest compared to the return: stronger families, safer communities, and a more prepared workforce for Michigan’s future. The question isn’t whether we can afford to fund these programs — it’s whether we can afford not to.”