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Waterford board unanimously opposes House budget proposals to direct state funds to private schools
Summary
The Waterford School District Board adopted a resolution opposing components of the Michigan House school-aid proposal that would direct public money to private K–12 and higher education, and trustees urged local advocacy to protect public-school funding.
The Waterford Board of Education voted unanimously to adopt a resolution opposing provisions in the Michigan House school-aid bill that would send public dollars to private K–12 and higher-education institutions and restructure categorical funding.
Board members said the House proposal (referenced in the meeting as House Bill 4577) would divert meaningful amounts from the school-aid fund and undermine funding equity and accountability for public schools. The resolution opposes “the inclusion of any direct or indirect public funding for private educational institutions in the fiscal year 2025–26 school aid and higher education budgets.”
Why it matters: Trustees said the House proposal would remove or consolidate categorical funding that currently targets specific student needs (for example, at-risk support, English language learners, CTE, mental-health supports and universal meals) and would direct state dollars to private schools that are not subject to the same enrollment and accountability rules as public districts.
Board members cited figures read into the record from the House proposal: the document read aloud by a trustee described $40,800,000 in direct per-pupil payments to private K–12 schools and $170,600,000 in college scholarships that would benefit private universities. Trustees said the House plan would also reduce school-aid fund dollars to balance the state general fund and move hundreds of millions to higher education and other state priorities. Board members urged constituents to contact legislators in Lansing in opposition.
Discussion versus decisions: The board formally adopted a resolution opposing the House school-aid proposal (decision). Several trustees gave lengthy remarks explaining the board's position and urged citizen advocacy (discussion/direction).
Trustees emphasized that public schools are open to all students, while private institutions can decline admission; board members said that shift could disproportionately affect students with disabilities and the most vulnerable populations. Trustee Joan Ristich and others asked audiences to be vocal with legislators and the governor’s office.
Ending: The board asked residents to lobby state legislators and the Senate as the House and Senate conference the budget, and said the district will monitor state budget negotiations and advocate for maintaining targeted categorical funding for public schools.
