Two Republicans are trying to get onto the Democratic-dominated board. The board makes recommendations for education policy but does not determine the state budget or pass laws.
Isabel Lohman
Isabel Lohman reports on early childhood, K-12 and higher education for Bridge Michigan, tracking how policies made in Lansing affect students and educators. She has closely reported on literacy, absenteeism and special education. Isabel was a finalist for the Society of Professional Journalists Detroit's 2026 Young Journalist of the Year award. Before joining Bridge, she covered children's issues for the Knoxville News Sentinel in Tennessee, reporting on COVID-19 in schools and communities coping with gun violence.
Isabel grew up outside of Chicago and has a bachelor's degree from the University of Missouri. She moved to Ann Arbor in 2022.
Posted inTalent & Education
As Michigan forges forward on literacy, many ask: What about math?
In a state laser focused on literacy, educators and leaders say more attention needs to be paid to math.
Posted inTalent & Education
Look up how many students miss class in your Michigan school
Statewide, more than 1 in 4 Michigan K-12 students are missing more than 10% of the school year. The rate is down slightly from the previous year but ‘more work remains,’ according to the state superintendent.
Posted inTalent & Education
Michigan absenteeism inches down; 1 in 4 still miss too much school
The state’s chronic absenteeism rates have decreased for the fourth year in a row, but more than a fourth of students are missing 10% or more of the school year.
Posted inBusiness Watch, Talent & Education
Push is on to boost career tech in Michigan schools. Not all agree that’s best
Nearly 115,000 students took a career and technical education course last year. But is it a direct path to a good job? Leaders say employers want even more training and schools need more trained instructors.
Posted inTalent & Education
See how your local Michigan school district did in the 2026 M-STEP
Scores vary across the state. Use this tool to look up your local school.
Posted inTalent & Education
Michigan reading scores drop again. State superintendent: ‘We need to improve’
Michigan students took standardized tests in the spring. But reading scores have dropped slightly from the year before across grades.
Posted inTalent & Education
Debate rages over U-M’s plan to hide letter grades. Here’s what to know
Starting in the fall of 2027, first-year students at the College of Literature, Science and the Arts will no longer have their first-semester grades factored into their GPAs or written on transcripts. Students are split on if it’s a good idea.
Posted inTalent & Education
U-M picks Vanderbilt’s C. Cybele Raver as next president: What to know
The second female president in the university’s history would face numerous challenges, from data center opposition to searching for a new athletic director to navigating a tricky relationship with the federal government.
Posted inTalent & Education
A renewed push to ban seclusion, reduce restraint in Michigan schools
Michigan students were secluded or restrained nearly 18,000 times during the 2024-2025 school year. Advocates say more staff training and an emphasis on prevention would help students.