Supporting Students, Schools, and Parents

Parents have the fundamental right to choose an educational setting for their children that best meets their needs. As such, public authorities should promote education choice by removing barriers to public and nonpublic education so families can choose the best option for their children. In its advocacy to support all students, schools, and parents, MCC supports:

• Reimbursement to nonpublic schools for state-mandated, non-instructional services, including policies which protect the health, safety, and well-being of students.
• Maximizing opportunities for nonpublic school students to participate in comprehensive shared time services.
• Amending Article VIII, Section 2 of the Michigan Constitution, which prohibits any educational funding to nonpublic schools or their students, to allow the Michigan Legislature greater flexibility for necessary education reforms.
• Inclusion of nonpublic schools, students, faculty, and staff in state funded programs or initiatives, whenever appropriate.
• Improving the quality of public education and ensuring parental rights regarding the education of their children.
• State policies which enable Michigan residents to take full advantage of federal school choice programs.
• A requirement that all public school districts have open enrollment policies.
• Protection of nonpublic schools from excessive regulation.
• Continued participation of nonpublic schools in school safety and non-core extra-curricular grant opportunities.
• Adequate funding for the Michigan Tuition Grant and Tuition Incentive Programs.
• Policies and funding that foster and promote education and job training for the skilled trades, including information technology support positions, especially for students in low-income families.