Michigan has spent heavily on early childhood education over the past 20 years, but it has not brought better academic outcomes. While spending increased, student proficiency dropped.

In fiscal year 2000-01, Michigan’s education spending on the School Aid Fund reached $10.8 billion. By fiscal year 2023-24, spending had more than doubled to $21 billion, according to the nonpartisan Senate Fiscal Agency.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer expanded taxpayer funding for preschool in the latest budget.

The move mirrored an earlier expansion of government involvement in early education by former Gov. Jennifer Granholm, who formed the Early Childhood Investment Corporation in 2005.

“It is critical that we provide opportunities to stimulate and feed children’s minds by providing every child the opportunity for high-quality education and care,” Granholm said at the time.

Fourth grade is typically when students start falling behind. In 2000, Michigan’s fourth grade students performed above the national average on the National Assessment of Educational Progress, known as the nation’s report card.

Nationally, the average NAEP score for fourth grade math in 2000 was 224, and Michigan scored 229. Only 11 states scored higher. The national average for reading in 1998 — there was no test in 2000 — was 213. Michigan had a higher score, 216 and ranked 18th in proficiency.

On the latest assessment, in 2023, the average national score for math was 235. Michigan trailed, with an average of 232. It now ranks 36th in math.

The results are similar for reading. Michigan’s average of 212 trails the national average of 216. Now the state ranks 41st.

In Detroit, 90% of students in public elementary and middle school are either not proficient or only partially proficient in English, according to Molly Macek, education policy director at the Mackinac Center for Public Policy. Only 5% of eighth graders are proficient in math.

Michigan’s K-12 education system has struggled for 20 years, Christian Barnard, assistant director of education reform at the Reason Foundation, told Michigan Capitol Confidential.

“The state’s public schools have seen some of the largest enrollment declines in the country, and student achievement on national tests has stagnated or declined despite increases in per-student funding,” Bernard said. “State leaders should focus on improving core K-12 education, not funneling tens of millions in new dollars towards pre-K.”

Michael F. Rice, superintendent of public instruction for the Michigan Department of Education, did not respond to an emailed request for comment.

Michigan is making progress, according to Bob Wheaton, a spokesman for the Michigan Department of Education.

“In the National Institute for Early Education Research Annual Yearbook, Michigan’s pre-kindergarten program continues to be tied for first in quality but is 18th in access, with a little more than one-third of all 4-year-olds enrolled in GSRP preschool last year,” Wheaton told CapCon in an email.

Since Granholm, the budget for early childhood education has gone up to at least $780.4 million for the 2024-25 school year. That includes $609.7 million in general funding, $42 million for early literacy coaches, and $25 million in start-up grants.

Eight local governments will receive a total of $13.55 million from Michigan taxpayers for infrastructure improvements.

Local governments are generally responsible for infrastructure in their own jurisdiction. But the 2025 state budget will have taxpayers from throughout the state bail out local authorities with money to fix a bridge, replace a water main, and maintain water and road infrastructure.

If a local government does not have enough money for a project, it will submit a bond proposal or ask the state for a handout.

The 2025 state budget includes a record-breaking amount of pork. Cities, townships and nonprofit organizations won a chunk of $1 billion from state taxpayers. Decisions to make these outlays were made late in the budgeting process without the standard vetting used to ensure the funding is needed and accountability guardrails are in place.

“Are these projects that give taxpayers the best bang for their buck?” asked James Hohman, fiscal policy director at the Mackinac Center for Public Policy. Lawmakers do not seem to care, Hohman said, noting that this is the problem with earmarks.

“Legislators direct them to the highest political needs rather than for the project that benefits the public most,” Hohman told Michigan Capitol Confidential.

Here are some local governments that will receive state funding from taxpayers who live elsewhere:

• Ypsilanti: $3 million for community infrastructure projects
• Garden City: $2.5 million for sidewalk improvements
• New Baltimore: $2 million for a breakwater project
• Oak Park: $2 million for water and road infrastructure
• Bay City: $1.6 million for bridge work
• Clawson City: $1 million for a water main replacement
• Gross Pointe Shores: $1 million for a sea wall
• Brooklyn Village: $450,000 for school routes.

Earmarks can be introduced by a simple request from a legislator, and they usually appear at the end of the budget process. The governor, however, can use the line-item veto power to remove earmarks from the budget. One example of the veto in use happened when the governor cut funding for a private firearm range in Bridgeport. Rep. Amos O’Neal, D-Saginaw, who earmarked the $450,000 grant, is a gun club member.