The legislature’s inability to decide on a test that accurately measures student growth may impact students and teachers next fall.
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
Funding to improve teacher prep passes House subcommittee
A state push to improve teacher performance was hampered by testing delays. Bridge pointed out a minor fix that would speed testing. On Tuesday, that fix passed a hurdle in the state House
Posted inTalent & Education
13 MILES TO MARSHALL: Tough times lead very different high schools to merge (chapter 1)
When money ran out at Albion High, the district shipped students to rival Marshall High School. What happens when poor, African-American students are bused to an affluent, nearly all-white high school? The answer may surprise you.
Posted inTalent & Education
13 MILES TO MARSHALL: Hard classes and difficult lessons for Albion teens (chapter 2)
With wariness among students from both towns, Albion teens enter classrooms very different from their old school. ‘They can’t know what they haven’t been taught.’
Posted inTalent & Education
13 MILES TO MARSHALL: Are Albion and Marshall a model for other troubled districts? (chapter 3)
Two superintendents face down ‘racist’ concerns from parents in their communities, and begin to see the promise of their stand.
Posted inTalent & Education
13 MILES TO MARSHALL: For Albion students, a long day, but ‘worth it’ (chapter 4)
Seven months later, there is a growing optimism among students despite academic struggle. And the districts’ finances begin to grow.
Posted inTalent & Education
School’s not out for summer if policymakers get their way
Year-round school is suddenly the hot new education reform movement in Lansing. Bridge wrote about a wildly popular year-round district in Michigan’s Thumb last fall.
<p>Now bipartisan support for year-round schools is growing in the legislature.</p>
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Bill sponsor says year-round schools will prove popular
The devil is always in the details, but year-round bill sponsor Andy Schor, D-Lansing, says the pilot program spearheaded by him and Gov. Rick Snyder will ultimately win support from parents, students, and teachers.
Posted inTalent & Education
Michigan teachers are under the microscope
Bipartisan measure would tie part of a teacher’s evaluation to student growth on standardized tests. Implementing the new assessments would cost millions but backers say it will improve learning by giving teachers the training and support they need to get better.
Posted inTalent & Education
Teacher evaluation bill meant to help, not punish, co-sponsor says
Rep. Adam Zemke says new statewide teacher evaluation legislation will help students by improving teachers’ classroom performance.