A Message from Speaker of the House Matt Hall
Shared with our members at the request of Chair Larry Galehouse
Grand Traverse County students head back to the classroom this month, and Michigan’s Speaker of the House, Matt Hall, wrote to share what this year’s education budget means for them. It’s a plain, practical list: teach kids to read, give teachers what they need, keep students safe and fed, and clear away the distractions.
We’re printing his letter in full below.
A strong school year starts with giving students the tools to succeed.
When parents send their kids to school, they should know they are walking into a classroom where they can learn, where their teachers have the resources they need, and where they will be safe and supported.
That is what I fought to prioritize in this year’s education budget.
The most important thing we can do is make sure Michigan kids can read. Our state’s reading performance has fallen far behind where it should be, and too many children are reaching third grade without mastering one of the most basic skills they will need for the rest of their lives.
We cannot simply accept that and hope things improve. We have to intervene early and give students and teachers better tools to succeed.
That’s why this year’s budget includes $222.5 million for literacy and teacher training in the proven phonics program. We also secured $50 million for tutoring, giving struggling students more individualized help before falling further behind. The budget also includes tens of millions of dollars to help schools hire additional teachers, reduce class sizes and give students more individual attention.
At the same time, we made a record investment in Michigan’s schools, increasing base per-pupil funding by $250 to $10,300 per student. That additional funding will help schools across the state keep good teachers in the classroom and provide the books, desks and other basic resources students need.
But education isn’t just about test scores and school funding. Kids can’t learn if they’re hungry, they can’t thrive if they don’t feel safe, and they can’t concentrate when they’re constantly distracted.
That’s why I passed the Hall Universal Breakfast and Lunch in Schools (HUBS) plan, protecting free breakfast and lunch for Michigan students and taking the burden of school meals off families. For some families, that can mean saving as much as $1,000 a year, while giving parents one less thing to worry about each morning.
I also fought to restore and protect funding for school safety and student mental health after those programs were cut in previous years. Parents should be able to send their children to school knowing they are protected, and students should have access to help when they need it.
And we’re taking another practical step this year: cell phones are coming out of the classroom.
Schools will now have policies that keep students off their phones during instruction, while still allowing districts to make their own decisions about lunch, passing periods and other times. Teachers deserve the opportunity to teach without competing against a constant stream of texts, notifications and social media, and students deserve the opportunity to learn without those distractions.
Teach kids to read. Give teachers the tools to teach. Keep students safe. Make sure they’re fed and supported. And let them focus on learning.
That’s the kind of education system I’m working to build, and I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished in this year’s budget.
As students head back to school, I hope every Michigan family has a safe, productive and successful school year.
Sincerely,
Matt Hall Speaker of the House
Want to be part of the work here at home? The Grand Traverse County Republican Party meets monthly and there’s a seat for you. Visit gtgop.org to get involved.