Haley: New scholarship program removes barriers in education. But Michigan must opt in. – The Detroit News
Federal legislation recently signed into law has the potential to open doors and remove barriers to educational opportunities for all Michigan’s children by enabling families to tap into privately funded scholarships for tutoring, tech, tuition, and more.
And here’s the best part: This program doesn’t take a single dollar away from existing education budgets. This is a new influx of educational dollars that will benefit all students, regardless of where they attend school.
Under the recently passed budget reconciliation bill, beginning in 2027, charitable donors in states that opt in will be able to contribute to approved Scholarship Granting Organizations (SGOs) designed to meet the supplemental educational needs of Michigan’s students.
SGOs can be established to cover specific educational expenses for students, such as special needs services, academic tutoring, extended day programs and tuition. Donors can create a lasting impact on improved educational outcomes for all students while receiving a federal tax credit up to $1,700 in return. Families earning up to 300% of the area median income would be eligible to apply for these scholarships.
The impact of these funds in Michigan would be significant.
With access to these privately funded scholarships, more families could afford summer tutoring to stem their child’s loss of progress over the summer holidays; more families could access internet in their homes, bridging the digital divide; diverse learners could access structured support not always available during the typical school day, even if their parents could not otherwise pay for these supports out of pocket.
A strong Michigan depends on thriving families and flourishing students. These scholarships would give families the chance to expand and enrich their child’s education, whether that’s through tutoring, transportation, technology, or assistance with paying tuition.
Our state leaders must opt in and put both donors and parents in the driver’s seat — empowering donors to choose which scholarships to support and parents to use the funds to support their child’s unique educational needs.
Much of the noise related to this tax credit focuses on how people can use the scholarship funds to pay private school tuition. True, tuition would be an allowable expense for some of the SGOs, but tuition is just one of the many ways parents could give their child the extra support they need. Remember that the tax credit goes to the donor, and the donor selects what types of funds they wish to support.
These scholarships aim to empower donors to make a meaningful impact and enable families to select the educational path that best suits their child’s needs and circumstances. Parents of all income levels should be allowed to choose where their child will learn and grow to their greatest potential, and these scholarships could open the door for many families.
If you’re a parent, an educator, or simply someone who believes in opportunity, now is the time to call on our state leaders to act in the best interest of all Michigan children. Don’t let political spin or misinformation cloud what could be a powerful new tool for families.
Eric Haley is the Superintendent of Schools Archdiocese of Detroit and a member of the Board of Directors of the Michigan Association of Nonpublic Schools (MANS).
