Michigan Business Beat | Ryan Fewins-Bliss, MCAN | Why Michigan’s Budget Timing Matters for Students

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Originally uploaded September 26th reloaded October 15th. Jeffrey Mosher welcomes back Ryan Fewins-Bliss executive director MCAN - Michigan College Access Network, Lansing, MI Why is it critical for Michigan’s legislature and executive office to finalize the FY2026 state budget before the September 30 deadline? How is budget uncertainty currently affecting K-12 schools and higher education institutions across Michigan? What risks do students face if state-funded programs like the Michigan Achievement Scholarship or Community College Guarantee are delayed? How does the Sixty by 30 attainment goal connect to Michigan’s broader workforce and economic development needs? What collaborative steps would you like to see state leaders take to ensure education remains a top budget priority? Michigan College Access Network encourages legislature, executive office to finalize state budget. K-12 schools, higher education institutions need clarity on fiscal year 2026 budget LANSING, Mich. — As we rapidly approach the constitutional deadline of Sept. 30, Michigan College Access Network is encouraging the legislature and executive office to engage in meaningful, collaborative negotiations to pass and sign the fiscal year 2026 state budget into law. Among our network, K-12 schools and higher education institutions are being forced to make difficult budget decisions without knowing their true financial standing, adding stress and uncertainty into what should be a joyful, optimistic start to a new school year. Students who are in college classrooms right now are wondering if the financial aid they need to continue their education could be delayed or even evaporate virtually overnight. Currently, education administrators across the state are spending valuable time and energy shifting budgets and developing contingency plans, when they could be using that time to better serve students and help prepare them for productive lives and careers. Our students are one of the state’s most valuable assets, and it’s of utmost importance that our elected leaders pass a budget that gives schools and institutions the confidence to make plans and focus on best serving the needs of their students and communities. There are college students in the classroom today whose financial aid relies on state funding. Life-changing programs like the Michigan Achievement Scholarship and the Community College Guarantee are offering pathways to better careers in vital fields, but funding must be allocated for fiscal year 2026 to deliver timely payments. To delay or eliminate this funding would break our commitment to these students, leaving them and their families in a precarious financial situation. ABOUT MICHIGAN COLLEGE ACCESS NETWORK (MCAN) As the leader in the state’s college access movement, MCAN works to improve the futures of Michigan’s students and communities by making college accessible to all. MCAN’s work centers on one main goal: To increase Michigan’s postsecondary educational attainment rate to 60% by 2030. MCAN engages partners statewide who are committed to systems-level change and the reduction of barriers to increase college readiness, participation and completion rates, particularly among low-income students, first-generation college-going students, and students of color. MCAN has helped Michigan’s postsecondary attainment rate increase for the 10th consecutive year. For more information, visit micollegeaccess.org. ###

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