The head of the largest teachers’ union in the state has a history of making factually incorrect statements in his periodic column that runs in the Detroit News.
In the Labor Voices July 23 column in the Detroit News, Michigan Education Association President Steve Cook wrote:
“Today, 50 traditional public school districts are in deficit. This is a direct result of the $1 billion cut to public education Gov. Rick Snyder pushed through in his first year in office.”
Cook is wrong on two points.
There are 45 public schools in deficit, according to the last report released in June by the Michigan Department of Education.
Overall, state and federal funding for K-12 education has increased from $12.7 billion in 2011-12 to $13.4 billion in 2013-14, according to the Senate Fiscal Agency. The state dollars spent on K-12 education has increased every year Snyder has been in office going from $11.01 billion in 2011-12 to $11.21 billion in 2012-13 to $11.60 billion in 2013-14.
Michigan Capitol Confidential is the news source produced by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy. Michigan Capitol Confidential reports with a free-market news perspective.