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What does it cost to educate a Michigan student? We may find out soon

Sarah Hulett
/
Michigan Radio
Credit Sarah Hulett / Michigan Radio
/
Michigan Radio

A bill in front ofGov. Rick Snyder would require the state to find out how much it costs to educate a student in Michigan.

The legislation would require the state to find a qualified vendor to conduct the study. It would have to be completed within a year. At that point the findings would be presented to the governor and the Legislature.

State Rep. Brandon Dillon, D-Grand Rapids, says the study would give lawmakers a much better idea of how to best spend money on schools.

“Right now we’re just guessing, and that’s not a way to run a school system,” said Dillon.

“There’s a lot of support for the concept, and especially with the governor being a CPA and talking about making decisions based on data - we should let the data drive the decisions on school funding, not just doing it because this is how we’ve always done it.”

The bill passed in order to win democratic support for a proposal to boost state road funding.

Copyright 2015 Michigan Radio

Jake Neher is a state Capitol reporter for the Michigan Public Radio Network. He joined MPRN in September of 2012. Before that he served as a reporter and anchor for WFUV Public Radio in the Bronx, New York, and as News Director for KBRW Public Radio in Barrow, Alaska. He has been working in radio in some capacity since he was 15 years old. A native of southeast Michigan, Jake graduated from Central Michigan University in 2010. He has a master's degree in public communications from Fordham University.
Rick Pluta is Senior Capitol Correspondent for the Michigan Public Radio Network. He has been covering Michigan’s Capitol, government, and politics since 1987. His journalism background includes stints with UPI, The Elizabeth (NJ) Daily Journal, The (Pontiac, MI) Oakland Press, and WJR. He is also a lifelong public radio listener.