High school grads on the fence about going to college didn’t get much personal contact with advisors and college representatives last school year because of the pandemic. The result is predictable and sobering.
Ron French
Ron reports on a variety of subjects across the state. Ron came to Bridge in 2011 from The Detroit News, where he was a project reporter. Born and raised in Indiana, Ron graduated from Purdue University. He reported for newspapers across Indiana before moving to Michigan in 1995. Ron lives in Okemos, and like the true Michigander he’s become, he now has a family cabin Up North. You can reach him at rfrench@bridgemi.com or 517-214-3636.
Posted inTalent & Education
University of Michigan, MSU require vaccinations for fall; others may follow
Citing the rise in coronavirus cases in parts of the country, U-M and Michigan State University will mandate proof of COVID vaccinations for all students, staff and faculty.
Posted inTalent & Education
State, feds suggest masks in classrooms. Michigan schools aren’t so sure.
Unless masks are mandated by government authorities, it’s unlikely most Michigan school districts will require face masks in classrooms this fall, say school leaders.
Posted inTalent & Education
Deadline nears for thousands of Michigan residents offered free tuition
Futures for Frontliners gave essential workers in the early months of the COVID pandemic a shot at free community college. Some are on campuses, but many more have yet to complete financial forms that would free them of tuition payments.
Posted inTalent & Education
Even as COVID wanes, fewer low-income students enroll in Michigan colleges
The state is pushing to get more residents to pursue a college degree. The pandemic appears to still be hobbling those efforts, particularly among poor and first-generation students.
Posted inTalent & Education
How can Michigan schools spend $6B in COVID money? Here’s what experts say
Help young readers? High school dropouts? What about building repairs? Experts weigh in on how Michigan schools should use federal funds.
Posted inMichigan Government
Michigan lawmakers pass ‘historic’ $17B plan for schools to close funding gap
Schools will receive base funding of $8,700 per student across the state, a goal lawmakers have worked toward since 1994.
Posted inTalent & Education
Michigan’s top doc urges schools to require facemasks in the fall
State officials issued guidance Friday recommending students mask-up in school in the fall. That’ll be a hard sell to schools and students.
Posted inTalent & Education
U-M expands free tuition program to its Dearborn, Flint campuses
Lower-income students at U-M’s Flint and Dearborn campuses can enroll this fall without paying tuition through the Go Blue Guarantee. But they must meet a GPA threshold not required of incoming “Go Blue” students in Ann Arbor.
Posted inTalent & Education
Michigan schools revolt, won’t flunk struggling third-grade readers
The families of almost 3,500 Michigan third-graders received letters recommending they be held back in grade because they scored poorly on a reading test. The actual number who flunk is likely to be much less than that.