Declining public school enrollment.
Per-pupil funding and how to best use allotted dollars.
Use of artificial intelligence in the classroom.
With another school year underway, school districts throughout Michigan face tough challenges new and old.
Attendance at public schools plummeted in the past 30 years, according to a study by Jason Burns, a research specialist at Michigan State University’s Education Policy Innovation Collaborative. From 2003 to 2024, for example, total student enrollment in Michigan declined by 20%, and roughly three of every four Michigan districts saw their enrollment fall. The proliferation of charter schools only adds to the dwindling number in public school attendance.
“Another important demographic change is that Michigan districts now serve a much higher-need student population,” Burns said. “The share of Michigan’s students who are economically disadvantaged increased from one-third in the mid-1990s to over half in recent years. Similarly, the share of students with disabilities has increased by more than 25% since 1995, and the share of English learners has nearly doubled since 2008.”
Burns said most funding from the state can be used where needed in a district, but some is earmarked for specific purposes.
“As funding declines, districts may have to make tough decisions,” Burns noted, stating many draw on rainy-day savings, but in some cases personnel cuts are necessary.
“In the area, both Lansing and Okemos are making staff reductions this year,” he said.
In addition, the use of artificial intelligence has been a growing concern for parents and educators. In June, the Michigan Department of Education and the nonprofit Michigan Virtual issued a set of tools to guide how schools can adopt artificial intelligence into the classroom.
Michigan Virtual in Lansing works with educators on how to integrate AI into lesson plans. AI Strategist Karle Delo said the problem with thinking about AI use in the classroom is often a case of all or nothing.
“Some think it’s got to be all inquiry, or all critical thinking, or it’s got to be all rote memorization,” Delo said. “What we really need to do is find that balance between the two.”
The balance could involve both critical thinking and AI use.
“So, when you’re thinking about using AI, there’s really two different paths you can take,” Delo said. “You can use it to just do something for you, just do the task, or you can use it to push on your thinking, as a thought partner or as a design partner.”
Some school districts are seeing the benefits of AI. Walt Sutterlin, a senior director of strategic communications and partnerships at Michigan Virtual, explained the change is tied to its future use in careers.
“We’ve seen a huge shift in the last three years from a complete stiff-arm push away — ‘No, this is evil’ — to so many school districts now realizing this is a tool in the workplace,” he said.
Rich Adams
Rich Adams was a print and broadcast journalist for more than four decades. When he is not watching his beloved Chicago Cubs, he is a regular featured writer for 517 Business.
