The Michigan Education Association (MEA) strongly opposes the voucher initiative.

"Vouchers are a ticket to nowhere," said Lu Battaglieri, president of the 147,000-member MEA. "Vouchers offer false hope and empty promises."

The MEA embraces proven school reforms that put ALL kids first such as smaller classes, partnerships with parents, and high standards for students and school employees, Battaglieri said.

"MEA members believe in putting ALL kids first," Battaglieri said. "And that's exactly what they're doing every day in classrooms across the state."

From innovative curriculum to unique business, community and parent partnerships, public schools and public school employees are changing with the times and meeting the increasing demands of the marketplace, Battaglieri said.

"It's time to get the truth out," he said. "Vouchers are a costly, destructive gimmick that would set public education back decades. Vouchers would hurt children, destroy accountability, and put an end to successful school reform initiatives." Furthermore, the voucher proposal is deceptive, Battaglieri said.

"It pretends to be about school reform," he said. "In reality it is nothing more than a mechanism to funnel public tax dollars into private and parochial schools