WHY VOTE? Education, Government Power, and the Future of the Republic

By Katherine Bussard, C.O.O. & Executive Director, Salt & Light Global

May 11, 2026

[UVOTE Committee Introduction: Is education policy and quality in Michigan on the ballot this year? Yes! Among the seats up for election in November are two seats on the State Board of Education as well as two seats on each of the University Boards of the University of Michigan, Michigan State University, and Wayne State University. The Governor also has a strong influence on the state's education policy. Guest writer Katherine Bussard details how public education has failed Michigan's children, giving voters compelling reasons to turn out this November.]

Although all men are born free, slavery has been the general lot of the human race. Ignorant—they have been cheated; asleep—they have been surprised; divided—the yoke has been forced upon them. But what is the lesson? ….The people ought to be enlightened, to be awakened, to be united, that after establishing a government they should watch over it…It is universally admitted that a well-instructed people alone can be permanently free. — James Madison, known as "Father of the Constitution" and fourth President of the United States.

We often hear the phrase “elections have consequences” as a shorthand explanation for the direction of government policy. While true, that phrase can obscure a deeper principle: in a constitutional republic, election outcomes do not override the rule of law. The structure of our government — defined by checks and balances — exists to ensure that power remains limited and accountable to the people.

When the consequences of elections lead to actions that stretch or exceed those limits, citizens have both a right and a responsibility to respond. Nowhere is this tension more evident than in education policy.

The Proper Role of Government in Education

The U.S. Constitution, the Michigan Constitution, and state law all recognize a foundational principle: parents have the primary right and responsibility to direct the upbringing and education of their children. Courts have long affirmed this understanding, and Michigan law reflects it clearly in MCL 380.10[1], which emphasizes cooperation between parents and schools to develop students’ intellectual and vocational abilities in a safe environment.  Beyond intellectual and vocational abilities, other aspects of training a child are protected as the sole purview of the parents or legal guardians.

Within this framework, government has a role — but it is a limited one. At the federal level, that role is largely confined to ensuring equal access and protecting civil rights in publicly funded programs. At the state level, authority over education must still operate within the boundaries of parental rights and clearly defined statutory purposes. When policy moves beyond those boundaries — or when it fails to meet its stated goals — it is appropriate to ask whether the system is functioning as intended.

Challenges in Michigan’s Education System

There are several areas where Michigan’s education system raises serious concerns.

Michigan public schools are Failing. Data from the Michigan Department of Education indicate only 25% of high school students demonstrate proficiency on widely used college-readiness benchmarks such as the SAT.[2]

Across grade levels, 62% of students fall short of state academic standards.[3] While the causes are complex, these outcomes suggest the system is not consistently delivering on its core statutory mission of intellectual development.

Michigan Pushes Radical Ideology Instead of Academics

From the newly adopted K-12 Health Standards that teach 11-12 year-olds to engage in sexual promiscuity and political activism, to the prominent partnership with groups like the Michigan Organization on Adolescent Sexual Health (MOASH) and Planned Parenthood who provide a host of sex-related services to minor children (often without involving parents), radical social-political and even religious values are routinely foisted on children in Michigan classrooms, significantly undermining the values parents seek to instill at home. None of these actions are legitimately supported by Michigan law.

Michigan Reduces Academic Accountability

Changes to policies such as repealing third grade reading requirements[4] and overhauling teacher evaluation systems[5] have also removed important accountability metrics that are proven to enhance student outcomes. Student learning or proficiency in reading no longer form key benchmarks in whether students or teachers advance in their academic careers.

Michigan Fails to Keep Students Safe

School safety remains a critical issue nationwide, including in Michigan. Reports of violence, bullying, and misconduct — while varying widely by district — underscore the need for continued focus on creating secure learning environments. According to a recent study, at least 77% of public schools report at least one act of criminal violence at school each school year.[6]

Privately educated students are reported as being 80 to 210 times safer at school (depending on the type of private education) than their public-school peers.[7] 

Students are increasingly becoming victims of sexual abuse. Harvard Graduate School of Education published an article showing 17% (more than one-in-six) children in public education are victims of sexual misconduct by school staff.[8]

Another disconcerting statistic is found in the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Dashboard on Adolescent Sexual Health. It documents nearly 10% of Michigan students report being raped.[9] Among female students, that number is reported at 21%, or just over one in five female students.[10]

These rates of violence are wholly unacceptable; at a minimum, they are a failure of state to provide a safe learning environment (MCL 380.10) for the children in their care.

Michigan Discourages Parents from Making Real Choices

In 2023-2024, bills were drafted seeking state control of private education, including private schools and home schools. In 2025, yet another bill was introduced inviting state involvement in private education. While these measures were defeated, our state board of education is now considering a resolution to oppose Michigan students receiving private scholarships to help fund education alternatives.

Another legislative proposal earlier this year to open school choice — so that a zip code doesn’t determine a child’s opportunity — also faced heavy opposition.

If we really believe what our Constitution and state laws state so clearly — that parents possess a natural, fundamental right to direct the education of their children — then we must also recognize that government exists to protect that right, not to constrain it.

Restoring Balance Through Good Governance

These challenges do not point to a single cause or a simple solution. Education is a complex system influenced by policy, culture, resources, and community engagement. However, one principle remains clear: government must operate within its lawful boundaries and remain accountable to the people it serves.

When those boundaries are tested, the responsibility ultimately returns to the electorate. Participation in elections — especially at the local and state levels — is one of the most direct ways citizens can shape education policy and governance.

School board races, legislative seats, statewide offices, and judicial positions all play a role in determining how education systems function. These decisions affect not only budgets and standards, but also the broader direction of policy and the balance between authority and liberty.

As James Madison observed, “A well-instructed people alone can be permanently free.” Ensuring the next generation is both educated and equipped to think critically is not just an educational goal—it is a civic imperative.

Michigan’s students represent the future of the state and the nation. They deserve an education system that equips them for success, respects the role of families, and operates within the principles that define our republic. Achieving that balance will require thoughtful policy, active citizenship, and a renewed commitment to both excellence and accountability, and it all starts at the ballot box this fall.

Ultimately, elections do have consequences—but so does the vigilance of an engaged and informed people.

Katherine Bussard serves at the C.O.O. & Executive Director of Salt & Light Global (SaltLightGlobal.org) and regularly publishes articles on education and public policy matters on SLGWitness (SLGWitness.com). She also serves as policy committee chair and a trustee on her local public-school board of education. Prior to these roles, she worked in private K-12 education instruction and administration for more than a decade. A leading voice for education policy in Michigan, Katherine remains a staunch advocate for education freedom and reform. 

[1] MCL 380.10 states: “It is the natural, fundamental right of parents and legal guardians to determine and direct the care, teaching, and education of their children. The public schools of this state serve the needs of the pupils by cooperating with the pupil’s parents and legal guardians to develop the pupil’s intellectual capabilities and vocational skills in a safe and positive environment.”

[2] Michigan Department of Education MI School Data Compare tool:  https://www.mischooldata.org/compare-tool/

[3] Ibid.

[4] The repeal of our 3^rd Grade Reading Law (Public Act 306 of 2016) was accomplished through Public Act 2 of 2023.

[5] This was accomplished through Public Acts 224 and 225 of 2023.

[6] “School Crime Fast Facts” Nation Center for Education Statistics, https://nces.ed.gov/fastfacts/display.asp?id=49

[7] Ibid.

[8] Anderson, Jill. “The Problem Schools are Ignoring: Researcher and educator Charol Shakeshaft shares strategies for educators and families to recognize, report, and prevent incidents of sexual misconduct in schools”, Harvard Graduate School of Education EdCast, October 24, 2024. “Recent studies estimate about 17% of students report being the target of sexual misconduct by a school employee.” https://www.gse.harvard.edu/ideas/edcast/24/10/problem-schools-are-ignoring

[9] MDHHS Dashboard on Adolescent Sexual Health (2023). https://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/-/media/Project/Websites/mdhhs/MCH-Epidemiology/2023-Michigan-Adolescent-Sexual-Health-Dashboard.pdf?rev=9090306af00d4e83ad5a716768b52c94&hash=900DAF747DB407C29248BD9D96493413 . 2023 is the most recent year provided by the state, and in this report 9.6% of all students MI students surveyed report being “physically forced to have sexual intercourse they did not want.” This number comes from a near-decade long CDC report on Michigan Youth: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Youth Online. 2013-2021 Michigan High School Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data. https://nccd.cdc.gov/Youthonline/App/Results.aspx?LID=MI

[10] U.S. Department of Justice “National Incident-Based Reporting System: Sexual Assaults Record by Law Enforcement (2019).” This is the most recent year available and reflects only those crimes reported to the police (i.e. the real incident rate is likely higher still). The study reports that in Michigan, “25% of all violent victimizations involved sexual assault; the percentage was higher for female (21%) than for male (4%) victims.” https://bjs.ojp.gov/sites/g/files/xyckuh236/files/media/document/sarble19_mi.pdf