Rabbi Ari Weisenfeld, Agudath Israel’s associate national director of state relations, joined former Vice President Mike Pence and former Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos this week at an education roundtable with Michigan parents and school leaders to discuss the proposed Student Opportunity Scholarship Act. The $500 million program would allow eligible Michigan students to receive up to $8,000 per child to cover education expenses such as tuition, tutoring, textbooks, various therapies, and transportation costs.  

Vice President Pence and Secretary DeVos spoke about the importance of putting parents in charge of their children's education. At the roundtable, several parents shared their stories about the lengths they had to go to find the best educational setting for their child, particularly parents of children with special needs. Rabbi Weisenfeld highlighted the work of Agudath Israel in supporting parental choice across the country while Mr. Andy Zack, a member of the Detroit Orthodox Jewish community, explained why parents in Michigan need educational choice programs like the Student Opportunity Scholarship Act.  

The event served as a reminder that there are only a few weeks left in the statewide Let Michigan Kids Learn petition campaign. That effort aims to collect the necessary signatures to allow the proposal to be passed into law by the Legislature without requiring a signature from the Governor.  

“The common theme expressed at the education roundtable was that parents want and need the ability to direct their child’s education,” said Rabbi Ari Weisenfeld. “Agudath Israel urges Michigan residents to sign and return the petitions today so that the Student Opportunity Scholarship Act can begin helping parents do just that!”  

For more information about the petition campaign click here.