Conclusion

As Michigan policy makers and citizens debate various proposals for educational reform, they should keep in mind that the state’s vibrant array of privately funded schools is both willing and able to accept a larger and more active role in providing children with quality education. Survey results and projections based on those results indicate that privately funded religious and nonsectarian schools would have the capacity to participate in programs to relieve student overcrowding in the public school system or to expand parents’ ability to choose private or government education for their children. Reforms that make effective use of excess capacity in Michigan’s privately funded schools will be able to tap into the full potential of diverse educational opportunities available throughout the state, while avoiding or delaying costly capacity expansions to the existing government K-12 education system.