State officials issued guidance Friday recommending students mask-up in school in the fall. That’ll be a hard sell to schools and students.
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
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 inMichigan Education Watch
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.
Posted inMichigan Education Watch
Detroit schools found a way to attract teachers: Pay them more
Detroit schools were once a tough sell. But by boosting starting pay above $50,000 and offering $15,000 bonuses for special education teachers, the city is attracting educators even during a statewide teacher shortage.
Posted inMichigan Politics Watch
Whitmer pitches big expansion of Michigan’s free preschool for 4-year-olds
A proposed $405 million infusion to the Great Start Readiness Program could come from federal COVID funds and the state’s school aid fund. It would provide free preschool to 17,000 more children from low- and moderate-income families.
Posted inMichigan Education Watch
Gov. Whitmer against expanding Michigan’s read-or-flunk law to 4th-graders
An expansion of the controversial third-grade law that recommends retention for students more than a grade level behind in reading was approved by a Senate committee Wednesday.
Posted inMichigan Education Watch
Michigan’s 3rd-grade read-or-flunk law may expand to 4th grade next year
If passed, the Republican bill could impact thousands of additional students across two grades next year. Critics say expanding the controversial law is a mistake, given the disruption to learning among all grade levels during the pandemic.
Posted inThe Center for Michigan
Meet Bridge Michigan’s interns for summer 2021
Bridge Michigan will have interns this summer from Central Michigan University, Michigan State University, the University of Michigan and Yale University.
Posted inMichigan Education Watch
Gov. Whitmer pitches financial incentives to recruit more Michigan teachers
Facing a crucial post-pandemic school year, Michigan leaders are exploring ways to bolster a dwindling teacher corps, from loan forgiveness programs to boosting starting pay.
Posted inMichigan Education Watch
Michigan asked ex-teachers to return to school. In 3 weeks, 1,200 said yes.
With Michigan facing a widening teacher shortage, the state superintendent suggested a rule tweak with huge ramifications: waive the 150 hours of training ex-teachers are required to take to return to classrooms.
