Decisions on whether masks will be required in classrooms this fall will be left up to local districts, despite CDC and state pleas for them to mask up.
Ron French
Ron French is the senior enterprise reporter at Bridge Michigan, covering a wide range of topics including rural communities, federal policy impacts, education and public health. Born and raised in Indiana, Ron came to Bridge in 2011 from The Detroit News, where he was a project reporter, and previously reported for newspapers across Indiana. He graduated from Purdue University.
Rooted in Okemos, Ron has become a true Michigander — complete with a family cabin Up North.
Posted inMichigan Education Watch
Michigan schools can’t fill teacher aide jobs: ‘There are no applicants.’
Job seekers can make almost as much at McDonald’s as they can working as a special education paraprofessional, making the vital but sometimes stressful jobs a tough sell for Michigan school districts.
Posted inMichigan Education Watch
Wayne State University issues vaccine mandate; Central Michigan requires masks
Colleges and universities had expected a normal return to campus this fall but the Delta variant of COVID-19 is scrambling their plans. Businesses like auto manufacturers also are adding mask mandates.
Posted inMichigan Education Watch
Q and A: How the pandemic stunted Michigan low-income college enrollment
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.
Posted inMichigan Education Watch
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 inMichigan Education Watch
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 inMichigan Education Watch
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 inMichigan Education Watch
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 inMichigan Education Watch
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 Politics Watch
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.
