The Crisis of Michigan's Public School Funding and Its Influence on Human Resources Management.

This article examines how Michigan’s public school funding policy, particularly under Proposal A, perpetuates structural racism and socioeconomic inequities that adversely affect human resource management (HRM) in urban school districts serving high percentages of Black and under-resourced students. Using critical race theory (CRT) and critical policy analysis (CPA), the study analyzes quantitative data on school finance, revealing that funding formulas tied to local property values result in lower per-pupil revenues and financial health for districts with predominantly Black and free and reduced-price lunch (FRL) students. These inequities constrain HR units’ ability to recruit, retain, and compensate qualified educators, contributing to higher teacher turnover and diminished educational opportunities. The article highlights that charter schools and hold-harmless districts face distinct funding challenges, with charter schools receiving significantly less per-pupil funding despite serving many Black and FRL students. It suggests that Michigan’s funding system would benefit from adopting evidence-based adequacy models like those in Wyoming and Wisconsin to better address the staffing and resource needs of under-resourced districts.