Senate Bills Would Unconstitutionally Send Public Dollars to Private Schools

As the Senate Education Committee passed SB 784-785 out of committee today to codify Michigan’s free school lunch program, they included substitute language that would include private schools in Michigan in this funding.

Michigan’s Constitution expressly bans any public dollars going to private schools. Article VIII, Section 2 reads, “No public monies or property shall be appropriated or paid or any public credit utilized, by the legislature or any other political subdivision or agency of the state directly or indirectly to aid or maintain any private, denominational or other nonpublic, pre-elementary, elementary, or secondary school.”

SB 784-785, as passed by committee today, would send public funding directly to private schools across the state, a clear violation of this long-held Constitutional provision. In response, Robert McCann, executive director of the K-12 Alliance of Michigan, released the following statement.

“We have long supported the idea of ensuring Michigan students receive proper nutrition while in our schools as we know that helps prepare them for success in and out of the classroom. That’s what makes it so disappointing that the Senate would include language in these bills that would blatantly violate Michigan’s constitution by sending public funds to private schools.

Michigan voters have made it clear time and time again that they oppose these exact moves that erode trust in how our public education funds are spent. Whether it’s sending private schools funding for meals or considering opting Michigan into the Trump administration’s disastrous voucher plan, Governor Whitmer and Michigan lawmakers are simply not listening to voters who want every dollar meant for public schools to end there.

There are 28 days remaining until the budget deadline. We strongly encourage lawmakers to instead focus on getting that job done to ensure our schools have the basic resources needed to open their doors to students this Fall. ”

A recent poll of Michigan voters showed overwhelming opposition to using public funds for private schools. On the question of whether Michigan should participate in a new federal private school voucher program, 61.1% of voters said the state should opt out in order to uphold Michigan’s constitutional prohibition on using public dollars for private schools.