Benson education plan: Up teacher pay, tackle absenteeism, change constitution

May 28, 2026 - 21:19

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer and state officials are pushing forward with a new education package that builds on existing initiatives while introducing several bold proposals. The plan, outlined by state leaders, focuses on three main pillars: increasing teacher pay, addressing chronic student absenteeism, and amending the state constitution to reshape how education funding is allocated.

The governor's office says the first priority is raising teacher salaries to make Michigan more competitive in recruiting and retaining educators. This would build on previous efforts that boosted minimum pay for teachers, but the new proposal aims for a more substantial increase, potentially linking wages to inflation or regional cost-of-living benchmarks. Officials argue that better pay is essential to improving classroom quality and reducing turnover.

A second major component targets the growing problem of student absenteeism. The plan calls for new state-level interventions, including more robust tracking systems and partnerships with community organizations to identify and support at-risk students. Schools would also receive additional resources for attendance outreach programs, with a focus on addressing underlying issues like transportation, health, or family instability.

Perhaps the most significant proposal is a push to amend the Michigan Constitution. The change would alter how the state funds public schools, moving away from the current system that relies heavily on local property taxes. The goal is to create a more equitable funding model, though the specifics remain vague. Any constitutional amendment would require approval from the state Legislature and then a statewide vote, making this the most politically challenging piece of the plan.

Supporters say the package is a necessary evolution of the Whitmer administration's earlier education work, which included free community college and expanded preschool. Critics, however, warn that some proposals could be costly and that constitutional changes are a heavy-handed approach. The plan now heads to the Legislature, where debate is expected to be intense.