Michiganders say Trump’s voucher push puts Michigan public school funding at risk

Michiganders from across the state are working together to advocate for improved education funding and support services as local lawmakers and the Trump administration find new ways to siphon money out of public schools. 

While Michigan’s 2026 budget provides some funding wins for the state’s public schools, a coalition of community organizations is concerned that education could still face cuts later this year.

“It’s critical that we continue to invest our dollars in these students… It’s time for Michigan to move from short-term fixes to systemic reform,” said Alexandra Stamm, a former English teacher at Portland Public Schools who’s now an education policy analyst with the Michigan League for Public Policy, during a virtual town hall hosted by the Michigan Education Justice Coalition (MEJC) on Feb 9. 

Stamm added that, despite having less revenue to fund public education, some Michigan lawmakers are exploring changes to school-related property taxes, which supply a significant share of local operating funds and about 15% of the state’s School Aid Fund for K-12 schools. If those taxes are cut, Stamm says it could force schools to make deep budget reductions that undermine the quality of education Michigan students receive. 

Moira Kaleida, the national coalition director for the Alliance to Reclaim Our Schools, warned attendees that even as they fight for more state education funding, the Trump administration is threatening public school funding at the federal level. 

For example, the Educational Choice for Children Act (ECCA), part of the Republican-backed reconciliation bill signed by President Trump last summer, allows individuals to receive up to $1,700 in tax credits for donating to certain scholarship organizations, which then provide scholarships for private school tuition and tutoring, ultimately diverting resources away from public schools across the state. 

Related: Education vouchers 101: What are they and how could they impact Michigan’s K-12 students?

“A voucher is a voucher, no matter what you call it,” said Kaleida, noting that the ECCA is modeled on a program that Trump’s former education secretary, Betsy DeVos, championed but failed to pass in Michigan in 2022.

WATCH: Trump’s vouchers revive DeVos’ rejected plans for Michigan’s schools

“This is something we stopped, but we still have to watch out because it could happen here,” said Kaleida, who encouraged attendees to contact Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to urge her to opt Michigan out of participating.

During the meeting, Attorney General Dana Nessel also offered words of encouragement and reminded attendees that she will continue to support them in the fight for Michigan’s public schools. Since January 2025, Nessel’s office has filed at least 45 lawsuits against President Donald Trump and his administration, and recouped more than $2 billion in taxpayer dollars withheld from programs Michigan residents rely on, including public schools. 

“My department is going to continue to do everything we possibly can to fight these illegal actions in court to preserve the funding that our schools rely on and to cultivate a safe environment that students can learn in,” Nessel said. 

“Every child deserves a strong foundation, and even the slightest disruption in a student’s academic journey can lead to lifelong difficulties. We are at a crossroads, and now is the time to act with a sense of urgency to preserve the funding our schools rely on and to give our students every possible advantage we can.”

Read more: Crumbling schools, crowded classes: Michigan’s students say it’s time for billionaires to help fund public education