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Opinion | It’s time to eliminate Michigan’s partisan state Board of Education
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Michigan’s education system is struggling, and families are frustrated. Despite record funding year after year, our students’ performance continues to lag behind other states. Parents, teachers and students alike are asking for accountability and real leadership. Unfortunately, the State Board of Education has become a barrier to progress rather than a partner in success.
This is exactly why I have reintroduced House Joint Resolution G to eliminate the State Board of Education and replace it with a system that prioritizes accountability and results. Under HJR G, the head of the Michigan Department of Education would be a direct gubernatorial appointment, subject to the advice and consent of the Michigan Senate, just like every other state department head. This would ensure clear accountability — allowing the governor, who is elected by all Michigan voters, to take responsibility for the direction of our education system.
When accountability is clear, results follow. Parents will know who to hold responsible and our students will benefit from a more focused, responsive, and effective education system.
This reform would not take control away from parents or local schools. On the contrary, it would return education to where it belongs: in the hands of local communities, guided by the parents and teachers who know their students best. Eliminating the partisan State Board of Education would restore trust and ensure that education decisions reflect the priorities of Michigan families, not political interest groups.
For too long, the State Board of Education has been bogged down by politics and ideology. Its members are elected through partisan statewide campaigns. In fact, candidates must first be nominated by a political party just to appear on the ballot. That means politics are baked into the structure of the board itself. It should come as no surprise, then, that the people who end up serving on the board often act like politicians instead of public servants focused on student outcomes.
This is evident by their recent actions to adopt new statewide health education standards. It is a perfect example of how political this body has become. The proposed standards introduce controversial concepts surrounding human sexuality and gender identity. Michigan law is crystal clear: decisions about sex education rest with local school districts, guided by their locally appointed sex education advisory boards. Parents have the right to review materials and opt their children out. These protections were created to ensure transparency, uphold parental authority, and respect families’ values and faith traditions.
When the State Board of Education uses its platform to promote ideological agendas instead of focusing on reading, math, and science, it erodes public trust and distracts from what truly matters: improving student achievement. We need more accountability at the state level and state education leaders that are more focused on helping kids learn and supporting families.
The path forward is clear. To restore excellence in our schools and rebuild confidence in public education, we must eliminate the State Board of Education and replace it with a structure that values accountability, transparency, and parental involvement. House Joint Resolution G gives Michigan voters the power to make this change at the ballot box.
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