Furniture grant at Keicher Elementary

Students are pictured at Keicher Elementary School in Michigan Center on Wednesday, May 25, 2016. (J. Scott Park | Mlive.com)

(J. Scott Park)

LANSING, MI -- The results of a major study on how Michigan finances education are in, and the study found that a subset of "notably successful" school districts spend $8,667 per student.

As of the 2014-2015 school year, the combined state, local and federal dollars districts received averaged $9,457 per pupil. The state spending averaged $7,127 per pupil that year, although there have been subsequent increases.

The legislature passed a bill requiring the study in 2014 as part of a roads package that ultimately failed. The state contracted with Denver-based education consulting firm Augenblick, Palaich and Associates to complete the study, and a final report materialized Tuesday.

Here are some of its findings:

A "notably successful" district spends $8,667 per pupil. Special education funding is hard to track. District inequity is increasing. Demographics affect test performance. Spending more may affect results.

Emily Lawler is a Capitol reporter on MLive's statewide Impact Team. You can reach her at elawler@mlive.com, subscribe to her on Facebook or follow her on Twitter: @emilyjanelawler.