Rep. Julie Alexander’s bill would have given students up to $1,500 to spend on tutoring and other education expenses. Democrats call it a voucher program. Where does tutoring stand in Michigan now?
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
Michigan lawmakers advance bill to limit how race is taught in schools
Amid the national debate about “critical race theory,” Michigan lawmakers weigh a bill to prohibit teaching of “race or gender stereotyping.” Critics say it’s a distraction.
Posted inMichigan Government
Studies: Betsy DeVos’ Let MI Kids Learn may help some, but promises overstated
A petition drive for a voucher-like scholarship system faces a pivotal week. Research from other states show the programs may get more students into college and don’t drain state coffers, but scholars disagree on impact.
Posted inTalent & Education
These low-income Michigan schools get students into college. Here’s how.
High costs, complicated forms, and only an abstract notion of what college is like. These are all barriers to low-income students applying to two- or four-year colleges. But 19 Michigan high schools are beating the odds. They cite three similar keys to their success.
Posted inTalent & Education
At Hillsdale library, resignations and alarms about politics, pedophilia
Until recently, nobody much cared about library board meetings. But as the culture wars expand into what books are suitable for children, a raucous weeknight board meeting in tiny Hillsdale underscores the political divide.
Posted inTalent & Education
Michigan Gov. Whitmer proposes $280 million tutoring investment
The proposal, which requires approval from Republican lawmakers, marks a shift for state leaders who have not previously emphasized tutoring as an academic recovery tool.
Posted inTalent & Education
Michigan may loosen school language requirements in favor of computers, finance
Programming and personal finance classes would count toward graduation requirements under pending legislation. Backers say it would better prepare students; foes say computers are no substitute for language.
Posted inTalent & Education
Chelsea Clinton visits Wayne County to push parents’ role in child literacy
Child advocates are working to find ways to ensure that low-income parents spend more time talking, reading, singing and interacting with their children.
Posted inTalent & Education
Nessel: Wayne State experiments on dogs should face new animal testing rules
The university has faced criticism for years for its treatment of dogs during research. A new attorney general opinion states that there needs to be state oversight of animal experimentation.
Posted inTalent & Education
Cheers for Dr. Fauci at comeback University of Michigan commencement
The COVID-19 pandemic stopped the classes of 2020 and 2021 from having a proper graduation ceremony. Saturday, they gathered under blue skies to hear Dr. Anthony Fauci urge them to embrace leadership and reject falsities.