Bridge Michigan recently published this story – “Michigan districts brace for cuts, as number of needy students falls.”
The problem is – the title is misleading.
The number of economically disadvantaged kids here in Traverse City isn’t falling.
But the number of local, low-income families filling out state paperwork is (free school meals—a very good thing—is a cause of this).
Why does this matter to us?
Because the paperwork (not the number of kids who are actually living in or near poverty) is how the state classifies economically disadvantaged students, which in turn determines the amount of funding schools receive.
And because losing around $1M of this funding for our kids who are furthest from opportunity would be a big deal for us.
Solutions?
1) Doubling down on district efforts to help families complete this paperwork by making sure it’s clear why it matters and what’s at stake.
2) Reform in Lansing/Washington (like using census or tax data instead of cumbersome paperwork) to better count our kids who are living in or near poverty.
3) Donate to our Student Support Network
4) Volunteer at your neighborhood school
Together, we can make sure all of our kids have what they need to succeed.
Photo Credit: Traverse Heights Elementary
TY FOR TCAPS 
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