McMillin: Charter School Bill Gives Choices to Michigan Families

The state House voted Wednesday night to end the cap on the expansion of charter schools in the state.

Senate Bill 618 passed 58-49. Rochester Hills Republican Tom McMillin, chair of the House Education Committee, voted for the bill.

"Michigan's children should not have to wait for adults in government to remove limits on their future," said McMillin in a statement Wednesday night.  "By phasing out this arbitrary, outdated cap today, thousands of students currently on charter school waiting lists were given real hope for a better tomorrow."

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. According to a report by Forbes magazine, 80 percent of the state's charter schools are run by for-profit companies.

"Opportunities for a quality education will increase for Michigan families once government tears down the wall they've built around charters," said McMillin, a former board president of a charter school.

"Parents seeking only to improve their children's education deserve more choices. This legislation empowers parents with more options necessary to keep their children out of failing schools."

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."

There are no charter schools in Rochester or Rochester Hills.

In a Wednesday night statement reported by Huffington Post Detroit, state Rep. Kate Segal (D-Battle Creek) called the passage of the bill "a complete assault on our public school system in Michigan."

"Senate Bill 618 unfortunately benefits for-profit charter schools at the expense of our public schools and their students," Segal said. "Removing the cap will allow an unlimited number of for-profit schools to open in whatever community they choose and put students at risk."

The House bill differs from the version passed by the Senate. But the two chambers could agree on changes and move to a final vote on the legislation as early as Thursday.