Michigan’s public education system is failing students with disabilities—and it’s not just a statistic, it’s a crisis. Right now, children with disabilities in our state are being denied the services, access, and support they need to learn, thrive, and reach their full potential.

A new report from the Autism Alliance of Michigan shows that our state ranks well below national averages in early childhood special education access, graduation rates, and academic performance. Just 21% of preschoolers with disabilities in Michigan get 10+ hours of support in regular classrooms—compared to 43% nationally. Graduation rates for students with disabilities lag by over 10 percentage points. And dropout rates are nearly double that of their non-disabled peers.

Parents are speaking out: over half say their child’s disability should have been identified sooner, and more than half don’t believe their school has the resources to meet their child’s needs.

This is not just a funding issue—it’s an equity issue. Students with disabilities deserve better outcomes, and Michigan can do better. Advocates are calling for adoption of the Michigan Special Education Finance Reform Blueprint, which would increase special education funding by $1.5 billion over several years and create a fairer, tiered funding system. But we need public pressure to make this happen.

We call on:

• Governor Gretchen Whitmer
• State Superintendent Glenn Maleyko
• The Michigan State Board of Education
• Leaders of the Michigan House and Senate Education Committees

to fully fund and implement this plan, expand early identification efforts, increase teacher training and staffing, and require schools to report on IDEA student performance transparently.

Michigan spends nearly $2.8 billion a year on special ed—but it's not enough, and it's not working the way it should. Every child deserves access to a quality education, regardless of ability. We must act now to close these gaps, uplift families, and build a system that truly serves all students.

Add your name to demand urgent, equitable investment in special education in Michigan.