The Word from Lansing: Catholics, Tell Your Lawmakers to Support More Safety Funding for Nonpublic Schools

Every child, regardless of where he or she attends school, should feel safe in class. Even in this divided world, most would agree on promoting school safety for all children.

That’s why we were disappointed this past year when state lawmakers decided to reduce school safety grant funding in the latest state budget, and then later left out nonpublic schools from a safety funding increase in a follow-up spending bill.

Since 2015, the state has funded school safety improvement grants for both public and nonpublic schools. Nonpublic schools, including Catholic schools, have used this money to make the necessary security upgrades that parents have come to expect of schools—door locks and buzzer systems, security cameras, and more. The funding can also be used to provide mental health services in schools, including hiring counselors.

Nonpublic schools had previously received $18 million and public schools had received $300 million in the most recent budget cycle. When the now-implemented budget was first proposed last year, the Governor suggested cutting all safety funding for nonpublic schools.

MCC and the Michigan Association of Nonpublic Schools, along with grassroots Catholics and nonpublic school staff, advocated tirelessly throughout the spring for lawmakers to keep the safety funding in the budget. The funding was preserved in the budget signed into law, but at a 92% cut from the previous year, bringing the statewide amount to $1.5 million for nonpublic schools and $25 million for public schools.

After that, lawmakers heard from constituents about the reduced safety funding. When legislators took up a supplemental spending bill in September, they agreed to increase spending on school safety—but for public schools only.

It was disappointing, considering the ratio of funding between public schools and nonpublic schools had been maintained in the previous cut. The decision left nonpublic schools to divvy up the $1.5 million among the 100,000 students attending nonpublic schools in Michigan, while public schools had $150 million to work with.

Now, with the school year well underway and as the end of the current legislative session approaches, there remains another opportunity for lawmakers to increase school safety funding for nonpublic schools.

That’s where Catholic citizens like you come in. While some may believe faithful citizenship ended with the election last month, faithful citizenship is needed all year round—including now. We’re asking you to use our online platform to send a pre-written message to your elected officials urging them to increase school safety funding for nonpublic schools.

Whether you send your kids to a Catholic school or not, it’s important to advocate for the common good and for ensuring the safety of all Michigan schoolchildren.

Direct advocacy from Catholics like you has made a difference in public policymaking. The 7,000 messages that advocates sent lawmakers this past spring played a crucial role in preserving some school safety funding for nonpublic schools.

Contacting your lawmaker only takes a few moments by visiting the following link: cthl.cc/safety

Sadly, the violence occurring in schools across the country has not excluded nonpublic schools. School safety improvements and mental health services are crucial policy priorities to protect human lives and ensure a healthy learning environment for students.

All kids should feel safe in school—including those who attend nonpublic schools.