Facing pressure from school groups ‘appalled’ by what they viewed as a steep cut, Democrats on Wednesday approved additional spending on school safety and student mental health.
Isabel Lohman
Isabel reports on early childhood, K-12 and higher education for Bridge Michigan. She loves visiting schools and analyzing how policies made in Lansing affect students and educators. Previously, she was the children’s issues reporter for the Knoxville News Sentinel in Tennessee. There, she reported on the state's third-largest public school district's COVID-19 response and how a community copes after losing teenagers to gun violence. Isabel grew up in the suburbs of Chicago and has also lived in Missouri, Tennessee and Belgium. Isabel moved to Ann Arbor in January 2022 where she experienced her first Michigan winter. She has a warm winter hat with a snap-on puff ball. You can reach Isabel at ilohman@bridgemi.com.
Posted inTalent & Education
Senate Dems OK retiree cost cut for Michigan schools over GOP objections
School groups are applauding the $615 million in yearly savings. Republicans warn of long-term consequences for educator pensions.
Posted inTalent & Education
In Michigan, 1 in 3 students miss 18+ days of school a year, data shows
Michigan students are already suffering from pandemic learning losses. High rates of absenteeism make it worse. Rates improved slightly from last year but are still well above 2019.
Posted inTalent & Education
Trump wants to abolish the Department of Education. Is Michigan ready?
Former President Donald Trump wants to eliminate the US Department of Education. That could affect Michigan school funding, college aid and civil rights protections for students.
Posted inTalent & Education
Michigan AG charges 11 over U-M protests, counterprotest
Months after police shut down an encampment on the University of Michigan Ann Arbor campus, State Attorney General Dana Nessel is charging individuals for their alleged actions against police.
Posted inTalent & Education
School is back in Michigan. So is COVID-19. What to know
Gone are the mask requirements and long COVID-19 isolation periods. But school leaders say it’s still important to stay home when sick.
Posted inTalent & Education
As University of Michigan classes resume, so do pro-Palestinian demonstrations
School is back at the University of Michigan. And so are the pro-Palestinian protests.
Posted inTalent & Education
M-STEP results reveal struggles for Michigan kids who began school in COVID
Experts have warned that the pandemic’s effect on learning would last for a long time. Now, Michigan scores show third graders are scoring worse on reading than third graders prior to the pandemic.
Posted inTalent & Education
Michigan failed to curb ‘seclusion and restraint.’ One school tries again
Michigan schools are still secluding and restraining students, mostly those with disabilities, at high numbers despite a 2016 law designed to limit the controversial practice. One special education school is beginning to police itself.
Posted inTalent & Education
Michigan eyes extended Reconnect eligibility for tuition-free college
Michigan has bet big on tuition-free community college for some adults. As federal pandemic funds expire, a state leader says the state is looking for ways to extend expanded eligibility.