Education Freedom Act

A bill to secure education freedom for Michigan families for generations; to establish universal education savings accounts so that funding follows the child; to enact a Parental Bill of Rights; to require accurate American and Michigan history, civics, and patriotism in public schools; to prohibit the teaching of divisive ideologies in taxpayer-funded K-12 education; to create teacher accountability and incentive systems; to restore local school-board authority and curriculum transparency; and to ensure that Michigan public education produces knowledgeable, productive, and patriotic citizens.

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

Section 1. Short Title.

This act shall be known and may be cited as the “Michigan True Education Freedom Act.”

Section 2. Legislative Findings and Core Principles.

The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:

(a) Children belong to their families, not the state. Parents are the primary educators and possess fundamental authority over their children’s upbringing, values, and education.

(b) Taxpayer-funded schools must remain ideologically neutral. They exist to teach reading, writing, mathematics, accurate history, civics, and practical knowledge—not to advance political, racial, or cultural indoctrination.

(c) Education should instill love of country, constitutional literacy, pride in Michigan’s heritage, and appreciation for the free-enterprise system and the sacrifices of veterans.

(d) Excellent teachers who deliver measurable results and uphold these standards deserve reward; educators who systematically violate neutrality or engage in political indoctrination must be held accountable through due process.

(e) All provisions of this act shall be applied consistent with the Constitution of the United States, the Constitution of the State of Michigan, and the requirements of due process.

Section 3. Definitions.

As used in this act:

(a) “Education Savings Account” or “ESA” means a publicly funded account assigned to an eligible student that the parent or guardian may direct toward approved educational expenses, including public-school tuition, private-school tuition, charter schools, homeschool curricula, micro-schools, tutoring, and related qualified costs.

(b) “Divisive ideology” means Critical Race Theory, mandatory diversity-equity-inclusion frameworks that assign collective guilt or privilege on the basis of race, gender ideology presented as settled fact in K-12 settings, Marxist class-struggle doctrine, or any curriculum that promotes racial division, anti-American narratives, or the overthrow of the constitutional order as official instruction.

(c) “Public school” means any school district, public school academy, or other entity receiving state K-12 foundation or categorical funding.

Section 4. Universal School Choice – Funding Follows the Child.

(1) Every eligible Michigan student shall be entitled to an Education Savings Account. The per-pupil allocation that would otherwise flow to the student’s resident district shall instead be deposited into the ESA, subject to reasonable administrative rules that maximize parental flexibility.

(2) Parents may use ESA funds for any approved educational option—traditional public, charter, private, homeschool, or micro-school—without financial penalty or loss of eligibility for other services.

(3) The Department of Education shall administer the program with minimal bureaucracy and maximum transparency. Annual audits shall verify proper use of funds.

Section 5. Parental Bill of Rights.

(1) Parents have the right to review all curriculum, textbooks, reading lists, surveys, and instructional materials used in their child’s classroom.

(2) Parents may opt their child out of any content, survey, or activity that conflicts with their family’s values or beliefs, without academic penalty.

(3) Schools shall provide full transparency regarding lesson plans, third-party programs, and school policies upon parental request.

(4) Schools must immediately notify parents of any gender-related concerns, social transition requests, or significant mental-health issues involving their child. Secret discussions that withhold such information from parents are prohibited.

(5) Violation of these parental rights by a public school or its employees shall be grounds for administrative discipline and, in repeated cases, loss of state funding.

Section 6. Patriotic and Michigan-Centered Curriculum Requirements.

(1) Every public school shall provide accurate, age-appropriate instruction in:

(a) The foundational documents of the United States, including the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, the Federalist Papers, selected Anti-Federalist writings, the Mayflower Compact, and Common Sense;

(b) Michigan history from its earliest inhabitants through French and British periods, statehood, the lumber and automotive eras, and Michigan’s contributions to America’s wars and industrial innovations; and

(c) American exceptionalism, the sacrifices of veterans, and the achievements of the free-enterprise system.

(2) Every student shall pass a civics examination demonstrating knowledge of the United States Constitution and Michigan government as a condition of high-school graduation.

(3) Daily recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance shall be conducted, with appropriate accommodation for students who object on religious or conscientious grounds. Moments of reflection on American civic values are encouraged.

Section 7. Prohibition on Divisive Ideologies in Public K-12 Schools.

(1) No public school receiving state funds may teach or compel affirmation of divisive ideologies as defined in this act.

(2) Curriculum, professional development, or third-party programs that promote racial division, collective racial guilt, gender ideology as mandatory doctrine, or anti-American narratives are prohibited in K-12 public education.

(3) Documented, repeated violations after notice and opportunity to correct shall result in progressive loss of state funding to the district or school until compliance is restored. Individual educators found to have systematically violated this section after due process may be subject to discipline, up to and including termination and certificate review.

Section 8. Teacher Accountability, Incentives, and Due Process.

(1) A Patriot Teacher Incentive Program is established to provide performance bonuses and salary supplements for teachers whose students demonstrate high achievement in reading, mathematics, history, and civics, and for educators who effectively incorporate accurate patriotic content, Michigan history, or character education rooted in traditional American civic values.

(2) Fast-track certification pathways and loan-forgiveness incentives shall be available to military veterans, career-changers, and professionals with demonstrated records of civic commitment who enter teaching.

(3) Every school district shall publish an annual transparency report listing all curriculum materials, external speakers, and third-party programs.

(4) A clear, protected process shall exist for parents and taxpayers to report alleged ideological indoctrination or neutrality violations. Investigations shall be prompt and fair. Educators shall receive notice, opportunity to respond, and due process before any adverse employment action. Egregious, documented cases of harm or clear legal violations may result in certificate revocation after full procedural protections.

Section 9. Structural Reforms and Local Control.

(1) Locally elected school boards are restored as the primary authority over curriculum and policy within the bounds of this act. State or federal mandates that override parental rights or local control are prohibited to the maximum extent permitted by law.

(2) A statewide Curriculum Transparency Portal shall be maintained so that every parent can review materials used in their child’s classroom.

(3) Persistently failing districts shall face progressive redirection of funding toward successful models and expanded parental choice.

(4) Public universities receiving state funding, particularly colleges of education, shall align teacher-preparation programs with the academic and civic standards of this act and shall be subject to transparency requirements.

Section 10. Implementation, Metrics, and Generational Security.

(1) The Department of Education and the State Board of Education shall implement this act with all deliberate speed. Annual public reports shall include student proficiency in reading, mathematics, and civics; parental satisfaction measures; retention of high-performing teachers; and resolution of ideological complaints.

(2) The long-term goal is for Michigan to rank in the top ten states nationally in reading, mathematics, and civics within one decade, with strong majorities of parents reporting that their children receive fact-based, patriotic education.

(3) The rights, choice mechanisms, curriculum standards, and transparency requirements established by this act are intended to endure across administrations and to secure education freedom for successive generations of Michigan families.

Section 11. Severability.

If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act and the application of its provisions to other persons or circumstances shall not be affected.

Section 12. Effective Date.

This act takes effect 90 days after enactment. Education Savings Accounts shall be available for the school year beginning after the second January 1 following enactment. Curriculum and transparency requirements apply to the first full school year after the effective date.

Enacting Section.

This act is ordered to take immediate effect.

Children First. Parents First. Patriotism First.

Save Our Schools. Teach Real History. Raise Great Patriots.

Education Freedom for Generations. Michigan First.