Once at the bottom, Mississippi has made massive strides teaching children to read. They’ve got literacy coaches, a high-stakes third grade test and lots of teacher training. What can Michigan learn from the Magnolia state?
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 spent big to fix schools. The result: Worse scores and plenty of blame
Ten years ago, Michigan vowed to become a Top 10 state for education. Since then, it’s outspent many other states and seen diminishing returns amid a revolving door of reforms.
Posted inTalent & Education
Michigan State agrees to pay nearly $30 million to shooting survivors
Lawyers for three victims of the 2023 MSU campus shooting have announced settlements with the university.
Posted inTalent & Education
As Michigan scores fall, state superintendent blames local control ‘run amok’
Michigan lawmakers are questioning if the state is doing enough to ensure students are reading on grade level. State Superintendent Michael Rice says changes from two laws passed last year will help.
Posted inTalent & Education
Michigan school districts are shrinking. None want to consolidate. Why not?
In Michigan, birth rates are declining and schools of choice options are increasing. School district leaders say they are trying to attract more students. But consolidation remains unpopular.
Posted inTalent & Education
Tax the rich to pay for schools? Michigan voters may get chance in 2026
Education advocates want voters to decide whether those making $500,000 or more should pay more in taxes to help schools. A ballot measure would go on the gubernatorial ballot.
Posted inTalent & Education
What is ‘team teaching?’ Michigan schools shake up the 'one-teacher' model
Teachers are often in silos, focused on one group of students or one subject area. Not anymore in Concord Community schools and Detroit Academy of Arts and Sciences. They are trying ‘team teaching.’
Posted inTalent & Education
U-M taps Domenico Grasso as interim president as Santa Ono leaves
Grasso has led the University of Michigan-Dearborn since 2018. He is stepping in as Ono resigns to become University of Florida president but is not expected to be a candidate for the permanent position.
Posted inTalent & Education
Michigan voters reject half of school bond requests. Blame the economy?
Voters defeated slightly more than half of the requests to borrow money for improvements, a lower success rate than normal for May election. Voters in Democratic-leaning districts were more likely to approve bonds.
Posted inTalent & Education
What’s next for U-M? Santa Ono successor to face DEI, Trump, elitism questions
The University of Michigan’s next president will face scrutiny from a faculty that wants a louder voice against Trump — and a public distrustful of higher education and its politics.