LANSING — Today, the House Education Reform Committee voted to send Senate Bill 574 to the full House. State Rep. Darrin Camilleri (D-Brownstown Township) attempted to amend the bill, but committee members voted it down. In response, Camilleri issued the following statement:
“Today’s vote to allow for-profit charter schools to have access to voter-approved enhancement millages is the clearest example of our state Legislature transferring public education dollars to the pockets of for-profit companies. I am opposed to private companies that seek to profit off our children under the guise of education, and this bill distracts from the good work being done by non-profit charters across our state. My amendment to Senate Bill 574 would have prohibited enhancement millage dollars from going to charter schools that operate on a for-profit basis. Voters who approve these millages and parents of Michigan students all want the same thing: the best possible education for our children. What they don’t want is their tax dollars padding the bottom line of for-profit companies. I’m disappointed that my amendment failed, but I will continue working to remove the profit motive from Michigan schools.”