Michigan education policy
In the Detroit Public Schools Community District, 65.8% of students missed 18 or more school days during the last school year. That’s a slight improvement over the previous year’s number.
The only two Republicans currently on the board are up for reelection. Six other candidates are vying for the two seats.
ardona took questions from Cass Technical High School students on Thursday as part of his national back-to-school bus tour.
U.S. officials say the MDE misled districts about what they were entitled to provide for students with disabilities during COVID closures.
The standardized test results offer a first look at how Michigan kids who enrolled in kindergarten and first grade during COVID shutdowns are performing.
The Detroit school district is releasing students early on the first two days of the school year because temperatures are expected in the 90s both days.
Here are the new laws that will go into effect this year and some of the policy issues we’ll be covering.
The U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights said the MDE is not taking accountability for violating protections for students with disabilities.
Statements from Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s office about the state’s investment in student mental health and school safety this year are at odds with school leaders who say those budgets were slashed.
The federal Office of Civil Rights’ investigation found students didn’t get the support the law guaranteed them. The Michigan Department of Education wants the case thrown out.
Administrators want the legislature to restore mental health and safety funding slashed in the state school budget and to make retirement savings permanent.
The cuts to mental health and safety grants will mean cuts to school resource officers, counseling, and other types of social and emotional support, education leaders said.
A potential state school budget plan floated by lawmakers Wednesday could mean massive cuts to mental health funding, layoffs, and other cuts.
Some worry that the legislation is not enough to address disparities in enrollment and performance.
After hearing from victims’ parents, the board called on lawmakers to beef up emergency operation plans, and for more funding for student mental health measures.
Advocates say proposed changes to Michigan’s Great Start Readiness Program would ‘turn back the dial’ on progress.
Some districts had lower per-pupil funding at high-needs schools despite an increase in at-risk funding, according to the analysis.
The bills would make districts screen all students for dyslexia and reading difficulties. Schools would also have to use the ‘science of reading’ to intervene in literacy instruction for those students.
Superintendent says tough decisions made last year have put the district on solid financial ground.
The state superintendent said cuts to staff won’t be prevalent in all districts. But educators say the “fiscal cliff” existed in the state well before federal COVID relief funds.