Lansing Update: Nonpublic Schools, Pregnant Mothers See Significant Support in New Budget
Posted October 3, 2025
New Budget Features Millions More for Nonpublic School Safety, Access to School Meals
Catholic and nonpublic schools in Michigan will have access to millions more in state funding to pay for school security measures, mental health supports, and to extend free meal access to more children, under the bipartisan budget approved by the Legislature this week.
Months of sustained advocacy by Michigan Catholic Conference and the Michigan Association of Nonpublic Schools (MANS) with support from grassroots advocates like you culminated in a budget for this fiscal year that provides more resources for nonpublic schools and their students across the state.
Lawmakers appropriated $14 million to nonpublic schools for school security upgrades on a per-pupil basis, after the Legislature allocated just $1.5 million last year.
Nonpublic school leaders have said they’ve used this state funding to invest in better doors, buzzer systems, bullet-resistant windows, security cameras and more, all of which are expensive upgrades. The increased funds will go further toward better protecting the more than 100,000 students who learn in nonpublic schools.
In addition, $3.5 million in grant funding was set aside for nonpublic schools to pay for school resource officers to further improve security on school campuses. This could prove beneficial to schools that have resorted to hiring private security teams, particularly in the wake of the tragic attack on the Annunciation parish and school in Minneapolis in late August.
Funding to address mental health needs in nonpublic schools continues in the new budget as well, amounting to $3.5 million through a grant program. Nonpublic schools have used this to hire mental health professionals and counselors to serve their students.
For the first time, eligible nonpublic schools will be able to extend the federal breakfast and lunch program to all children in their schools, regardless of family income. Since the state began funding this meal expansion for K–12 schools a few years ago, nonpublic schools that would have otherwise qualified did not receive the funding or authorization to do so.
After years of MCC and MANS advocacy, the new budget allocates $1.6 million to nonpublic schools that qualify to ensure all their students have access to healthy meals in school.
The budget also continues reimbursements to nonpublic schools for the costs of complying with state-mandated health and safety requirements ($1 million) as well as support for students to participate in robotics competitions ($600,00).
Nonpublic students will also continue to benefit from dual enrollment opportunities to earn college credit while in high school through a $3.5 million appropriation. There were no changes to the opportunity for nonpublic school students to enroll in non-elective courses taught by public school teachers through the shared time program, which is a great partnership between public and nonpublic schools.
The school budget bill, Senate Bill 166, passed by overwhelming bipartisan majorities in both chambers this week: 31-5 in the Senate and 104-5 in the House.
MCC wishes to express gratitude to every lawmaker who voted for this school budget that supports all students, including those in nonpublic schools. MCC also would like to thank the grassroots advocates of the Catholic Advocacy Network who sent their lawmakers nearly 3,000 messages this summer reminding them to support all students in the budget.
A thank you is also extended to nonpublic school leaders who have advocated for their students directly through meetings with lawmakers, and those who participated in MCC efforts to produce videos to help build the case for more state support of nonpublic schools.
The school budget that passed the Legislature this week—which represents the negotiated agreement between the Governor, Senate, and House—will head next to the Governor for her signature.
MCC will continue reviewing the rest of the budget—which was unveiled for the first time publicly and approved by the Legislature just hours later—for other items of interest and will report on those at a later date.
Legislature Pours $250 Million Extra Into Program Helping Pregnant Mothers
The public-private program providing direct aid to pregnant mothers and their children in lower-income areas received a $250 million one-time infusion of state funds in the state budget approved by the Legislature this week.
Lawmakers also continued the ongoing $20 million annual appropriation for RxKids, the program that began in Flint as a partnership funded by private donors and the state to support mothers with $1,500 in cash assistance during pregnancy and $500 monthly for six to 12 months after their child’s birth.
While it launched in Flint several years ago, the program has expanded to Kalamazoo, five counties in the eastern Upper Peninsula, Pontiac, Clare County, Royal Oak Township, and Hazel Park.
The $250 million one-time state investment comes as leaders of RxKids have sought to take the program statewide. MCC has supported funding for this program because it provides direct, impactful assistance to mothers in need, and has testified in support of legislation to enshrine RxKids into state law.
The budget the Legislature approved this week also maintained the MCC-supported diaper assistance grant program at $6.4 million, which provides funding for diapering supplies to be made available for diaper assistance programs, maternity homes, local county offices, and other nonprofit agencies that distribute diapers free of charge.
The Legislature also maintained the current foster care administrative rate paid out to agencies that provide foster care services—including Catholic Charities agencies—at $60.20.
MCC will continue to review the state budgets passed this week and report on additional items of interest in a later edition.
See Christ in Those You Disagree With, USCCB President Urges Americans
This week, the president of the U.S. bishops conference released a pastoral reflection calling on all Americans to “see Christ in every person, even those whose politics you oppose.”
“Each of us should examine our hearts, our thoughts, and our actions and ask ourselves how we contribute to the polarization and animosity plaguing our nation,” wrote Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio in his reflection marking the fifth anniversary of Pope Francis’ encyclical Fratelli Tutti on fraternity and social friendship.
The reflection is worth reading, particularly, as the archbishop notes, “grievous acts of violence have intruded into the daily lives of too many Americans.”
October Is Respect Life Month—and November Is the Michigan March for Life
The Church marks October as Respect Life Month, with this year’s theme as “Life: Our Sign of Hope,” to align with the global Jubilee Year of Hope.
While this month is a time for Catholics to pray and advocate for the protection of human life, in Michigan, this advocacy will continue into next month, as the 2025 Michigan March for Life will take place on Thursday, November 6 at the state Capitol in Lansing.
To RSVP and view more information—including how to find a bus departing from your area—visit the Michigan March for Life website.
A Mass for life will be held at 9:30 a.m. the morning of the March at St. Mary Cathedral in Lansing. The rally will begin at 11 a.m., followed by the march itself at noon.
Invite your friends and family and make plans to attend to hear encouraging stories from speakers, and to be a physical representation and witness to the movement to ensure all human life is protected.