Former US Education Secretary Betsy DeVos has thrown her support behind a petition campaign in Michigan. The campaign would allow personal and corporate tax breaks to help families pay for private school tuition.
DeVos is also financially supporting the initiative. She says the tax breaks would support special funds to help parents afford private school.
“We need to give parents their innate right and power to control their kids’ futures.”
If the campaign gathers enough signatures, the Republican-controlled Legislature could adopt it without the threat of a veto by Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer.
But Sam Inglot with the group Progress Michigan says the tax break would still run afoul of the state constitution’s ban on direct or indirect public funding of private schools.
“All of the options are on the table right now, especially because how big of a threat this is to our public schools.”
Inglot says that could include a court challenge.