LANSING - Top business and education experts revealed results from a year long comprehensive statewide school funding study on Jan. 17.

The School Finance Research Collaborative board of bi-partisan representatives came from all over the state to develop a report providing the most complete data available on school funding to give policymakers the first step in changing Michigan's school funding system.

This study was the first year to include charter schools and included 300 educators.

"This really looks at what it costs to educate a child in Michigan and every child is different," Superintendent of Eastern Upper Peninsula Intermediate School District, Dr. Daniel Reattoir, said.

The key findings of the study were:

1) The cost to educate a regular education K-12 student in Michigan is $9,590, not including transportation, food service or capital costs.

2) Charter and traditional public schools should not be equally funded.

3) To educate a preschool student age 3 or 4, it costs $14,155.

4) A percentage of the base cost for the base per-pupil costs should be provided for special education, english language learners, students living in poverty and programs to provide Career and Technical Education.

5) The cost of transportation should be funded at $973 per rider until a further study can be conducted.

6) Due to the varying size of Michigan school districts and small districts lacking economies of scale, district sizes must be taken into account with funding increases provided for all districts under 7,500 students.