UPDATE:
The petitions to create a student opportunity scholarship program for low-income students have been submitted to the state after accruing more than 1 million cumulative signatures and hundreds of thousands more than the minimum needed for approval.
The Let MI Kids Learn campaign — supported by Michigan’s Catholic bishops — circulated two petitions: One to create a student opportunity scholarship program and the other to set up a tax credit to fund the scholarships.
Continue reading on the Michigan Catholic Conference website.
Overview:
The Let MI Kids Learn petition drive promotes educational justice in our state.
The drive included two petitions circulated for signatures:
Petition 1: Creates student opportunity scholarships to families, who meet the criteria (see graphic below), for their out-of-pocket educational expenses at public or nonpublic schools.
Petition 2: Would fund these scholarships by giving a state tax credit to those who donate (individuals and companies) to scholarship-granting organizations, including existing Catholic school foundations.
Can Catholics support this effort?
As this is a nonpartisan effort supported by the Michigan Catholic Conference on behalf of the Catholic Bishops of Michigan, Catholic parishes and schools were able to circulate petitions and Catholics were encouraged to sign them.
Learn More
Video – About the Petitions (English | Español)
Frequently Asked Questions – Overview
From the Mackinac Center for Public Policy – Policy Guide & Explainers for Parents, Schools, Donors, Vendors & Organizations
Questions and Answers for Homeschool Families
Fliers – Petition Drive Summary from MCC | Let’s Talk about the Money
How many signatures are needed?
Members of our community would benefit from this initiated legislation, regardless of where they send their children to school. By collecting 340,000 signatures or more (per petition) by May 17 or May 23 (if returned to Lansing by priority mail), this proposal can be placed before the legislature, and, if approved, would not require the governor’s signature to become law.
Resources for Petition Circulators
Michigan Association of Non-Public Schools Parent Letter
Let MI Kids Learn Circulator Instructions
Additional Resources
Visit the Let MI Kids Learn website | About the Proposal | Sign up to receive updates about Let MI Kids Learn
Have Other Questions?
If you have additional questions, please email [email protected].
