In Case You Missed It, Education and Workforce Committee Chairman Tim Walberg (R-MI) penned an op-ed for the Detroit News making the case for why Governor Whitmer should opt in to the school choice tax credits, made available by the Working Families Tax Cuts passed by Republicans in Congress.
…In my time as a Michigan state legislator and a member of Congress, I have become far too familiar with the story of students who are stuck in a failing school system and lack the resources to get out.
…The Working Families Tax Cuts, signed into law in July, implemented the first ever federal school choice tax credit. This would incentivize businesses and individuals to donate to Scholarship Granting Organizations (SGOs) and thus expand scholarship access to families.
…It is my sincere hope that the governor does the right thing and takes advantage of these school choice tax credits. Opting Michigan into the federal tax credit program would not defund public education or reduce state tax revenue.
…The reality is school choice creates more competition among schools and helps schools reach their full potential as they strive to appeal to more families. In fact, research has shown that traditional public schools perform better when they face competition from school choice.
We also know that parents want more educational options. More than 70% of respondents to a RealClear Opinion Research survey support school choice, including 82% of Republicans, 68% of Democrats and 67% of Independents. A January 2025 survey similarly found that 81% of voters agree that the government should empower parents and prioritize individual students’ needs by providing greater access and more choices to ensure children receive the best education…
