A group representing Michigan charter schools accuses the DOE of adding new hurdles for charters to access federal money to open new schools. Supporters of the rules say they rein in problematic practices within the charter school industry.
Michigan has more than 800 school districts, which previous governors have tried to combine to save on administrative costs. The new education budget contains $237 million aimed at getting school districts to consider consolidating.
In approving the state’s education budget early Friday morning, the GOP legislature and Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer also added investment in school safety measures and the teacher pension system, thanks to unexpectedly high state revenues this year.
The package, signed Thursday by Gov. Whitmer, contains a range of changes to child care law, from minor procedural fixes to major changes in the state’s method of supporting private providers.
Michigan officials launched the pilot, called Strong Beginnings, on the premise that high-quality education has profound benefits for all early learners, not just those who are a year away from kindergarten.
The state Senate passed a package of bills on Wednesday that would require schools to screen for dyslexia and provide evidence-based instruction to help students learn to read.
The proposal, which requires approval from Republican lawmakers, marks a shift for state leaders who have not previously emphasized tutoring as an academic recovery tool.
Michigan has a financial cushion thanks to federal stimulus funds and stronger-than-expected recovery from the economic shock of COVID-19. But education spending is a sticking point.
Using federal COVID relief funds to curb learning loss, some local school districts are putting money into tutoring. A review of 16 programs shows some schools follow best practices more closely than others.
State educations leaders have not provided the coordination and financial support as in some other states, leaving Michigan school districts to develop their own programs or take other approaches to stemming learning delays.
The coronavirus prompted parents to homeschool their children or put them in private schools. Many are returning to public schools, but it’s unclear whether it will be enough ever offset losses.
An unprecedented $6 billion in federal COVID relief money has come to Michigan to help schools, with mental-health support one of its pillars. It’s a lot of money, but young students will need a lot of help.
Michigan’s efforts to boost third-grade reading skills took a hit during the pandemic, with teachers reporting less time to provide targeted support to struggling readers, particularly more vulnerable readers, an MSU report found.
Chalkbeat put together a list of resources for families that help them understand how to monitor threats in their school and where to go for help dealing with trauma.
Even superintendents who championed returning students to classrooms in Michigan are finding it difficult to keep doors open full-time this year amid staff shortages, outbreaks and behavioral issues. Critics say schools should do more.
Many early educators in Michigan will soon receive $1,000 bonuses, a ‘thank you’ to thousands of workers across the state who stuck with challenging, low-paid, and essential jobs through the scariest days of the pandemic.
