Michigan's FY27 state budget includes a historic $135 million appropriation for afterschool and summer programming — a major win for young people and families across the state.
This funding reflects sustained, bipartisan support from the Governor and Legislature, including Governor Whitmer, Speaker Hall, and Majority Leader Brinks, along with keylawmakers on both sides of the aisle who engaged thoughtfully with our field throughout this year's budget process. This year's budget required difficult decisions, but one thing has been clear throughout: support for Michigan's children and families is bipartisan.
What This Means for Out-of-School Time
This appropriation is more than a line item — it's a statement that out-of-school time programming is essential infrastructure for Michigan. Here's what this investment will mean:
More young people served. Demand for afterschool and summer programs far outpaces supply in communities across the state. This funding will help existing programs expand and new programs launch, reaching more of the young people currently on waiting lists or without options at all.
Stability for providers. Sustained state investment gives programs the ability to retain quality staff, deepen partnerships with schools and community organizations, and build programming that grows with the youth they serve.
Support for working families. Quality OST programs keep young people safe, engaged, and learning during the hours when parents are on the job. This investment is workforce infrastructure for today's working families, and it strengthens tomorrow's workforce by keeping youth connected, building skills, and growing beyond the school day and year.
Stronger communities. When young people have enriching places to be after school and in the summer, communities thrive. This funding will ripple outward through local economies, school outcomes, and neighborhood well-being.
This investment builds on years of advocacy by providers, funders, and champions who have made the case, again and again, that afterschool and summer programming matters for Michigan's kids, families, and workforce.