(LANSING) - Hundreds of Michigan school districts have declined state safety and mental health funding after raising concerns about new legal conditions tied to the money.
Reporting from Chalkbeat shows that in early December, 974 school districts and school leaders initially signed agreements required to access the funds. Those agreements included provisions requiring districts to waive certain legal privileges and allow state investigations following a mass casualty event, such as a school shooting.
By the end of 2025, 462 districts had rescinded their agreements, citing unclear language and potential legal risks. Roughly 70 percent of traditional public school districts and 39 percent of charter schools that initially signed later withdrew.
The funding totals $321 million and is available to traditional public school districts, intermediate school districts, charter and private schools, and the Michigan School for the Deaf.
Public schools are eligible for $374 per student, while private schools may receive $236 per student.
The funds are intended for mental health staffing, threat assessment and crisis response training, and physical safety upgrades such as security cameras, door locks and window screening.
Several districts, including Woodhaven-Brownstown School District in Wayne County, said they rescinded their agreements because the legal language was vague and overly broad. Other districts, including Detroit Public Schools Community District and Dearborn Public Schools, opted to retain the funding agreements, citing the importance of additional resources for student mental health and school safety.
A Michigan judge upheld the funding language in the state budget in December. That ruling has since been appealed to the Michigan Court of Appeals.
Michigan Department of Education officials said the remaining 512 districts that maintained their agreements are expected to receive the funds as part of February state aid payments, the Herald Republican reported.