Michigan families navigating afterschool and summer programming options are watching two critical funding streams right now — one at the state level and one federal. The news on both fronts is largely positive, but the road to get here has been anything but smooth, and the work of protecting these investments is far from over.
Section 32n: Michigan Looks to Hold the Line
Michigan's Section 32n out-of-school time (OST) grant program has become one of the most significant state-level afterschool investments in the country, and the current budget cycle reflects continued momentum.
The Governor and Senate have proposed a total of $135 million for Section 32n in 2026-27, combining $85 million in one-time School Aid Pupil Support Fund dollars with $50 million in ongoing State Aid Fund support — a significant signal that state leadership views OST not as a one-time investment but as a permanent fixture of Michigan's education infrastructure.
The Michigan House is also working to address the demand for OST in Michigan, maintaining its previous level of investment in the face of anticipated revenue reductions. With the May Consensus Revenue Estimating Conference showing higher than expected revenues, House leaders are engaging in renewed conversations about FY27 funding opportunities.
There are numerous opportunities for afterschool and summer learning supporters to engage in the coming weeks, as the budget is being completed. Whether you can do a complete legislative site visit at your local OST program or even just click to send an instant message, your voice is needed!
Federal Appropriations Watch: 21st CCLC Funding on the Line Again
The next chapter in the fight for federal afterschool funding is playing out this week. The House Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations Subcommittee is scheduled to mark up its FY2027 spending bill on June 5 — and that bill will determine funding for all education, childcare, and AmeriCorps programs, including 21st Century Community Learning Centers. Whatever passes will support students during summer 2027 and throughout the 2027-28 school year.
The good news is that the bill is not expected to mirror the President's FY2027 budget proposal, which would have eliminated 21st CCLC entirely and folded it along with 16 other programs into a block grant. Congress has rejected that approach before, and early signals suggest they will do so again. Still, the markup bears watching. MASP will continue to track the legislation and share updates as they develop.
What This Means for Michigan Programs
Michigan OST providers are in a relatively stronger position than most states heading into the next program year, thanks to the combination of robust Section 32n investment and a sustained federal commitment from Congress. But the volatility at the federal level is real, and programs that rely on 21st CCLC cannot afford to treat continued funding as a given. The lesson of 2025 — when appropriated dollars were withheld mid-summer — is that authorization alone is not protection.
MASP will continue to monitor both funding streams and provide updates as the Michigan budget process and federal appropriations cycle develop. If you have questions about how these funding changes affect your program, reach out to our team.