From the governor’s race to local school boards, the ‘parental rights’ movement has dominated debates on education policy this election year. But movement-backed candidates had limited success Tuesday in local school board elections.
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
Democrats sweep Michigan Board of Education and MSU, UM, Wayne State races
Republicans framed the education debate in Michigan this year on culture war issues including transgender inclusion, diversity and critical race theory. But in statewide races, it was Democrats who emerged victorious.
Posted inMichigan Government
Michigan Congress: Hillary Scholten, Elissa Slotkin win; Dan Kildee, John James lead
In early results, it remains uncertain which party will control Michigan’s congressional delegation.
Posted inMichigan Government
Michigan Supreme Court: Richard Bernstein, Brian Zahra retain seats
Bernstein, a Democratic nominee and Republican-nominated Zahra will return to the state’s highest court. Their reelection maintains the 4-3 advantage on the court for justices nominated by the Democratic Party.
.
Posted inTalent & Education
Michigan colleges tout nonpartisan efforts to get more students to vote
Politicians know young people tend to vote at lower rates than their elders. But Michigan college campus leaders say students are invested in the issues, but may need more help accessing voting information.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
More Michigan parents opt to skip school vaccines for their children
More than 10 percent of students opted out of at least one vaccine in five Michigan counties, leaving areas open to potentially deadly outbreaks. Said one ‘vaccine choice’ leader: Parents know what’s best for their children.
Posted inTalent & Education
U-M President Santa Ono: New ethics office will be truly independent
President Santa Ono said the office will follow best practices from other universities in the wake of multiple sexual misconduct scandals. He also vowed a new initiative on climate change and explained why his selfies and ‘grams are more than a schtick.
Posted inTalent & Education
Michigan’s student scores fell along with nation’s during COVID-19
The latest national testing underscores the pandemic’s toll on math and reading scores. Michigan’s fourth-graders had the lowest reading scores in 30 years. Black and low-income students fell further behind white, more affluent students.
Posted inTalent & Education
Nassar judge: I’m willing to be MSU president to fix sexual assault system
Judge Rosemarie Aquilina presided over Dr. Larry Nassar’s state criminal sentencing. She said she’s received a ‘groundswell’ of feedback from Nassar survivors, large donors and ex-football players encouraging her to consider leading the university.
Posted inTalent & Education
Where Michigan governor candidates stand on K-12, college education
As students and schools try to recover from the pandemic, Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Republican challenger Tudor Dixon have vastly different plans for how to improve Michigan schools and colleges.
