FOWLERVILLE, Mich. (WILX) - A new report says it’s time for the state of Michigan to change the way it funds special education.

The Michigan Special Education Reform Blueprint was released last week. It proposes more funding for students with disabilities based on their needs, not their zip codes.

Out of the 1.5 million students who attend public school in Michigan, 15% have some kind of disability, according to the MI School Data database. That includes learning disabilities, speech impairments or autism spectrum disorder.

Kelsey Johnson, a Fowlerville mother, said she faced barriers in the public school system with her son who has autism.

“Before my son was even allowed to receive special education services at the school, they needed three months of hard data to say, this qualifies h

See Full Page