Michigan public schools serve more students in need now than 30 years ago

Districts require more resources to educate these groups than the rest of the student population.

Since 1995, the percentage of students with economic disadvantage in Michigan has increased from 31% to 54%; since 1995, the percentage of students with disabilities in Michigan public schools has increased from 12% to 16%; since 2007, the percentage of English learners in Michigan has increased from 4% to 7%

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Economically disadvantaged students include those who are eligible for free or reduced-price meals, live in households that receive government-issued food benefits, are experiencing homelessness, are migrants, as well as some who are eligible for Medicaid, according to MI School Data. Michigan started collecting data on English learners in the 2006-07 school year.

Chart: The Conversation CC-BY-NDSource: Education Policy Innovation Collaborative at Michigan State UniversityGet the data