By Jon King / jking@whmi.com


Republican lawmakers took final votes today on a package of bills from a local lawmaker that would let Michigan students attend private schools and pay other educational expenses with scholarship accounts funded by people and corporations that would get tax credits for their donations.

Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has called the fast-tracked legislation, sponsored by Brighton Township Republican State Senator Lana Theis, a “nonstarter” and plans to veto the package. Michigan has what is considered to be the country’s strictest constitutional ban on providing public assistance to nonpublic schools.

Theis, who chairs the Senate Education and Career Readiness Committee, said the plan would boost educational opportunities for kids who have fallen behind during the coronavirus pandemic and give parents additional choices. Democrats call the proposal unconstitutional and say it would drain resources from public schools.

The legislation, first approved in the Republican-led Legislature last week, cleared the House early this morning on 55-49 votes during a marathon session that stretched beyond midnight.

K-12 students would be eligible if their family income is no more than double the cutoff to receive free or reduced-priced lunch — $98,050 for a family of four — or if they have a disability or are in foster care.

Students attending private schools could get up to $7,830 this year, which would be 90% of the state’s minimum base per-pupil funding. Those in households with incomes at 100% to 200% of the free and reduced lunch program threshold would receive less on a sliding scale.

Children enrolled in public schools could get a maximum of $500, or $1,100 if they are disabled.

The funds could pay for school-related expenses such as tuition, fees and tutoring. State tax revenue would be cut by as much as $500 million in the first year, and public schools would see a drop in funding depending on how many kids switch to private schools.

A Senate Fiscal Agency analysis estimated the state’s general fund could lose as much as a billion dollars by the fifth year of the program if it were to become law.