The anguish Benton Harbor is undergoing now was felt by Albion residents six years ago. Today, Albion students, attending a high school 13 miles away, are graduating at a higher clip.
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
Anguish in Benton Harbor as years of mistakes lead to a school’s likely demise
Teachers blame administrators. Administrators blame the board. The board blames the state. Caught in the middle are students saddled with devastatingly low rates of achievement.
Posted inMichigan Education Watch
Michigan is investing heavily in early reading. So far, it’s not working.
Only three intermediate school districts out of 56 in Michigan are showing increases in third-grade reading. A leading educator asks for patience.
Posted inMichigan Education Watch
Six times more third-graders may flunk next year under Michigan reading law
More than 5,000 students may be flagged to repeat third grade under a new law intended to ensure solid reading skills at a key age. That number sounds high, but it could have been far higher.
Posted inMichigan Education Watch
Will Michigan 3rd- grade reading law hurt poor? Florida’s history says yes
Students from less advantaged families are more likely to be held back under Florida’s third-grade reading law than white, more affluent kids with the same low reading scores. A similar Michigan law begins this fall.
Posted inMichigan Education Watch
Michigan’s next superintendent led gains in Kalamazoo, fought GOP policies
Michael Rice boosted low-income gains and has experience outside Michigan. And he doesn’t shy away from fights, which could lead to fireworks with the Legislature in his new post as the state school chief.
Posted inMichigan Education Watch
With schools flailing, Michigan seeks new leader from in-state. Again.
The three finalists to be Michigan’s next state superintendent are all Michigan connected. And did we mention that in 183 years Michigan has never had a female full-time state superintendent?
Posted inMichigan Education Watch
Comparing Michigan school superintendent finalists by test scores
Three people are finalists to be the next state superintendent. What do the test scores of students under their leadership say about whether they could turn around Michigan’s flailing schools?
Posted inMichigan Education Watch
One finalist drops out, one added, to be next Michigan school superintendent
Boston steals a superintendent finalist from Michigan’s final three list.
Posted inMichigan Education Watch
Should algebra 2 be required? Michigan legislator says no. Research says yes
A bill allowing students to opt out of algebra 2 for other, more practical math classes has been introduced in the Michigan Legislature a month after a study lauded the positive impact of the requirement.