Large, rural school districts make for long, expensive bus routes that eat up budgets. Attracting teachers can be difficult and high-speed internet is hard to find. Consolidation saves money but residents fear loss of community.
Tracie Mauriello
A guest author for Bridge Magazine.
Posted inTalent & Education
Study: Michigan program for troubled schools helped mitigate COVID impact
The state’s lowest-performing schools were the hardest hit during the disruption of the pandemic. But the state’s partnership program, which offers more resources and support to these schools, likely helped curb learning loss, an MSU study found.
Posted inTalent & Education
Michigan boosts social studies training to teach ‘full breadth of history’
State Supt. Michael Rice is behind an effort to upgrade and diversify teaching materials relating to significant events and movements like the holocaust, civil rights, contributions by indigenous people and citizenship. It comes amid a national debate over race, books and lesson plans in U.S. schools.
Posted inTalent & Education
Michigan school safety task force prioritizes mental health, building security
Michigan House lawmakers want schools to have health centers, lockdown kits, updated active-shooter drills, and more.
Posted inTalent & Education
No, bus drivers aren’t leading classes in Michigan, despite uproar over law
Educators howled when legislators passed a law allowing school staffers to serve as substitutes temporarily. Months later, hardly any schools regularly take advantage of the law.
Posted inTalent & Education
Michigan bill would let college students lead classes to curb teacher shortage
A law already allows bus drivers to serve as substitute teachers. Now, lawmakers are considering allowing uncertified education majors to teach for a full year. ‘We need to do something,’ sponsor says.
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School COVID policies remain dominant Michigan education issue in 2022
Keeping students in classrooms amid a volatile pandemic remains an all-consuming topic for school leaders. Children are suffering from years of disruption as districts weigh how to spend billions in additional federal dollars.
Posted inTalent & Education
Michigan students forced online by COVID learned less than those in schools
A new analysis confirmed what had been feared: Online learning wasn’t as effective as in-person during the COVID-interrupted 2020-21 school year, and academic gaps between racial groups grew.
Posted inTalent & Education
Short of teachers, Michigan schools may use bus drivers as subs under GOP bill
A bill allowing current school support staff to work as substitute teachers, even if they’ve never been to college, is meant to address a teacher shortage hobbling Michigan schools.
Posted inTalent & Education
Few third-graders held back by Michigan’s read-or-flunk law, report finds
More than 90 percent of students flagged for retention were promoted, a study finds. Low-income and Black third-graders were more likely to be held back because of poor reading scores.