Michigan has 21,000 more teacher aides than a decade ago helping a shrinking population of schoolkids. Hiring more adults has yet to reverse learning skids, but one lawmaker likens it to turning around the Titanic.
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 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
Fact check: What’s true, false, misleading about Michigan’s education slide
From poverty and special interests to the lockdown and school choice, theories abound about Michigan’s declining test scores. Other states have the same issues but are doing better.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Opioid crisis cost Michigan $38 billion in 2024, new analysis finds
Lost productivity, wages and the cost of police and courts reveal the far-reaching impact of substance use disorder in Michigan.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Michigan may lose $93M in federal funds for drug treatment, recovery
The loss of almost a third of Michigan’s drug-fighting funds could thwart efforts to save lives.
Posted inTalent & Education
MSU eyes $85 million in cuts, fewer staff over federal funding reductions
Michigan State University tells departments to cut 9% and prepare for the possibility of eliminating low-enrollment student academic programs.
Posted inThe Center for Michigan
Meet Bridge Michigan’s interns for the summer of 2025
Bridge is welcoming interns from the University of Michigan, Michigan State University and a recent graduate of Rochester Institute of Technology.
Posted inTalent & Education
In west Michigan, library that survived LGBTQ book flap closes as staffers quit
Tensions are high again in Ottawa County, as staffers quit the Patmos Library after a conservative board takes over.
Posted inTalent & Education
‘Gutted.’ Michigan losing $200M in fed research funding, with more in limbo
Research at Michigan universities and hospitals – including work on cancer treatments and Great Lakes algae blooms — is being pared back or delayed as the Trump administration slashes federal spending.
Posted inMichigan Government
‘It’s devastating’: Michigan loses about $15M in federal AmeriCorps cuts
The cuts to the program will impact literacy tutors, homeless assistance and the Special Olympics as a result of efforts to slash the federal budget.