House Committee Votes to Lift Cap on Charter Schools

The state House Education Committee, which , voted Wednesday to end the cap on the expansion of charter schools in Michigan.

Senate Bill 618 now goes to the full House.

"Every Michigan student deserves to receive a quality education of their own parents' choosing," McMillin said in a news release. "This legislation empowers parents to have the options needed to keep their children out of failing schools."

Superintendent Michael Simeck disagreed with that take on the legislation in in October after the Senate approved the bill.

"For-profit charters do worse academically than traditional public schools, spend less money on instruction, and sort and select students," he wrote. "The Senate-approved bill is a one-size-fits-all 'cure' for urban schools’ ills that will drain resources from high-performing community schools across our state."

According to the Michigan Association of Public School Academies, there are 232 charter schools in Michigan and more than two-thirds of the schools have waiting lists.

There are no charter schools in Berkley or Huntington Woods.

The Michigan Education Association has openly opposed the bill, calling it "another attempt to destroy public education and divert public taxpayer dollars to private, for-profit companies."

In a news post, the MEA urged its members to contact legislators and voice their opposition to the bill.

McMillin, however, said the bill would increase opportunities for a quality education in the state.

"Today we gave the tens of thousands of students on charter school waiting lists hope for a better future," he said.