reduce class sizes • expand career & technical education • recruit & retain high quality educators

Invest In MI Kids Initiative Will Raise $1 billion for Michigan Schools

Detroit, MI — The Detroit Public School Community District (DPSCD) School Board unanimously voted to adopt a resolution endorsing the Invest in MI Kids Ballot proposal, an initiative that would raise over $1 billion in funding for Michigan schools through fair share surcharge on income taxes that affect less than 1% of the wealthiest filers in Michigan. 

“When we invest in Michigan’s kids, we’re investing in Detroit’s future. Every dollar spent on our students strengthens our neighborhoods, our economy, and our city. Invest in MI Kids will provide over $1 billion in consistent revenue for our schools. The Detroit Public Schools Community District Board of Education stands with all Michigan children to invest in our shared future,” said Monique Bryant, DPSCD School Board Member. 

Momentum has been growing for the ballot initiative in recent weeks, as both the state and federal budgets have made little headway in addressing a $4.5 billion shortfall for adequate k-12 education funding and are facing additional federal cuts for special education, food assistance, and Medicaid.

DPSCD is one of several school boards across the state to announce its support of the measure. Invest in MI Kids has also been endorsed by the Michigan’s State Board of Education, the Michigan PTA, Rep. Rashida Tlaib, and over 100 local community organizations, unions, elected leaders, and small businesses. 

“Every child in Detroit deserves a world-class education. Our schools need smaller classes, stronger support for teachers, and more opportunities for our students. I support Invest in MI Kids because I believe our strongest resource is our children and we need to prioritize funding their education - and their future,” said Heidi West, a Detroit Public School teacher who spoke in favor of the measure at the meeting. 

The proposed ballot initiative would add a modest 5% surcharge on income over $1 million (or $500,000 for individuals). Currently, billionaires currently pay the same state tax rate as teachers. Under this proposal, no one with taxable income below these thresholds would be subject to the surcharge. These new funds would be constitutionally protected and explicitly directed toward:

• Reducing class size
• Retaining and recruiting educators
• Career and technical education
• 
  

Advocates say that they were inspired by successful efforts in other states, including Massachusetts, to adopt similar measures. Invest in MI Kids volunteers will be continuing to collect petition signatures through the winter in order to qualify for the 2026 ballot. 

Invest in MI Kids is a grassroots coalition of parents, educators, small business owners, and community leaders coming together to pass a ballot initiative that would provide Michigan schools with over $1 billion in annual funding by applying a fair share surcharge to Michigan’s millionaires. We believe that every student, regardless of their income or background, deserves a high-quality, well-resourced public education. Learn more at: https://investinmikids.org/

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