A single, three-letter word dominates education in Michigan these days: Cut.

The Legislature cut state aid to school districts by $165 per student earlier this month. Gov. Jennifer Granholm cut $127 more per pupil on Thursday.

Michigan school districts - large and small, rural and urban, wealthy and not - are suffering because the state's school funding system no longer works.

"Real revenues that Michigan districts receive have been declining since 2002, and they are going to continue to decline," said David Arsen, professor of educational administration at MSU and an expert in Michigan school finance.

A steadily growing group, from school officials to parents to community organizations, are calling for change.

But to understand what changes are needed and how they might work, it's important to understand the system.

That's no easy task.

Read the full article... including a sidebar with a good Q&A about how public education is funded in Michigan.

Source: Lansing State Journal, 10.25.09