Michigan schools may have to lay off or otherwise ‘lose”’more than 5,000 teachers to balance budgets as federal pandemic funding expires amid continued enrollment declines, according to a new analysis.
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 inMichigan Education Watch
Michigan FAFSA challenges: High school seniors slow to fill out form
Less than one-third of Michigan high schools seniors have filled out a federal form required to qualify for state and federal loans, grants and scholarships. Experts worry the low submission rate could lead to low college enrollment and students missing out on free money.
Posted inMichigan Education Watch
After shooting, MSU adding AI surveillance to detect threats, count people
A campus shooting exposed weaknesses in MSU security. The university will use artificial intelligence to fill some gaps as part of a sweeping $10M security upgrade that may take several years to complete.
Posted inMichigan Education Watch
U-M eyes ‘disruptive activity’ crackdown amid Israel-Hamas war protests
Days after U-M’s president was shouted down by pro-Palestinian demonstrators, officials are pitching a policy that would punish students and others for disrupting university activities.
Posted inMichigan Education Watch
As ‘COVID cliff’ looms for Michigan schools, Ann Arbor faces cuts, layoffs
As federal relief funding runs dry, a “COVID cliff” is looming for Michigan schools. Ann Arbor appears to have hit it early.
Posted inMichigan Education Watch
Michigan lawmakers consider making kindergarten mandatory
Michigan parents are heavily encouraged but not required to send their children to kindergarten. A Democratic-sponsored bill would make kindergarten a requirement.
Posted inMichigan Politics Watch
Michigan school safety bills stalled: ‘It’s inexcusable,’ Oxford dad says
Michigan has spent hundreds of millions on school safety in recent years, but some lawmakers contend policy solutions have stalled because of politics. Democrats disagree.
Posted inMichigan Education Watch
Lawmakers want more CPR, cardiac arrest training for Michigan schools
A new plan would require more schools to buy defibrillators and train athletics coaches on how to use them. Advocates say that will save lives.
Posted inMichigan Education Watch
MSU board asks Whitmer to weigh removal of Dennis Denno, Rema Vassar
MSU’s latest president, Kevin Guskiewicz, begins his term hours after Board of Trustees members take action against two of their own over ethics allegations.
Posted inMichigan Education Watch
Report: Whitmer should consider removing two Michigan State trustees
An outside firm concludes MSU trustees Rema Vassar and Dennis Denno ‘engaged in conduct that exceeds the scope of their authority.’
