As demonstrated in the preceding sections, the Michigan Constitution clearly establishes the principle that education must be a top priority of Michigan citizens. Only with a well-educated populace can we achieve the peace, prosperity, and freedom that a constitutional democracy promises.
Since parental choice in education is such an effective method of improving the availability, quality, and efficiency of educational programs, it is vital that Michigan citizens work to provide more educational options for more students. There are essentially four ways to accomplish this: 1) allow parents and students to choose freely between existing public schools, even schools outside the home school district or the home intermediate school district; 2) remove the existing cap on the number of charter schools that may be created and reduce regulations that hinder such schools from starting; 3) implement a tuition voucher program; and 4) implement a tuition tax credit program.
After analyzing the various means of expanding parental choice in education, this section proposes a Michigan Constitutional amendment for a Universal Tuition Tax Credit. This tax credit is "universal" because, unlike traditional tuition tax credits, it applies to
Any Michigan student
Any Michigan elementary or secondary school, public or private
Any taxpayer—individual or corporate; and
Any of three major state taxes: the Individual Income tax, the Single Business Tax, and the State Education Tax (the statewide 6-mill property tax).