Urban Districts Say Proposed Changes to Michigan's Kindergarten Funding Will Force Budget Cuts

Some urban districts using federal money to pay for all-day kindergarten say they’ll have to do some budget shifting or possibly cut some programs unless lawmakers make some changes.

Grand Rapids Public Schools leaders say they’ve recruited an influential ally – Doug DeVos, son of the Amway founder – in an effort to turnaround what they say is an unintended consequence of the new funding plan encouraging all-day kindergarten.

The proposed state school aid budget calls for cutting per-student grants in half for students enrolled in half-day kindergarten classes, an effort to prompt districts into creating all-day programs.

 Grand Rapids already offers all-day kindergarten, supplanted with $3.3 million awarded through Title I, a federal program intended to help students in poverty. Federal regulations strictly limit how the money can be spent...

At least 10 districts are expected to be effected. Lansing schools could have to redirect $2.5 million in funding; Flint would have to move $2.1 million. Kalamazoo, Muskegon, Ypsilanti and Mt. Clemens also face the same situation.

http://www.mlive.com/education/index.ssf/2012/05/urban_districts_say_proposed_k.html