Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s goal to make preschool free and available to all families is a big task. The biggest hurdles for the state to overcome are shortages of qualified staff and too few affordable, quality child care spots for 4-year-olds.
Talent & Education
To prosper, Michigan must be a more educated place. Bridge will explore the challenges in education and identify policies and initiatives that address them.
Posted inTalent & Education
As ‘COVID cliff’ looms for Michigan schools, Ann Arbor faces cuts, layoffs
As federal relief funding runs dry, a “COVID cliff” is looming for Michigan schools. Ann Arbor appears to have hit it early.
Posted inTalent & Education
Michigan lawmakers consider making kindergarten mandatory
Michigan parents are heavily encouraged but not required to send their children to kindergarten. A Democratic-sponsored bill would make kindergarten a requirement.
Posted inTalent & Education
Advocates ask Michigan to fund educator retention programs
As the state works to solve the ongoing teacher shortage, advocates are asking legislators to fund retention efforts in addition to educator pipelines.
Posted inTalent & Education
Lawmakers want more CPR, cardiac arrest training for Michigan schools
A new plan would require more schools to buy defibrillators and train athletics coaches on how to use them. Advocates say that will save lives.
Posted inTalent & Education
Michigan eyes reforms to teach those with dyslexia. Critics say more is needed
After school administrators said they didn’t think the proposed bills could be implemented within the required timeline, lawmakers amended the legislation to give schools more time.
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MSU board asks Whitmer to weigh removal of Dennis Denno, Rema Vassar
MSU’s latest president, Kevin Guskiewicz, begins his term hours after Board of Trustees members take action against two of their own over ethics allegations.
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Report: Whitmer should consider removing two Michigan State trustees
An outside firm concludes MSU trustees Rema Vassar and Dennis Denno ‘engaged in conduct that exceeds the scope of their authority.’
Posted inTalent & Education
Michigan’s charters, virtual schools buck trend in falling enrollment
Michigan’s traditional public schools continue to report declining enrollment as parents choose charter and private schools. Public school enrollment fell by 7,400 in fall of 2023 though it rose in the state’s publicly funded charter schools.
Posted inTalent & Education
Michigan’s 4-year high school graduation rate rises 2nd year in a row
The state four-year high school graduation rate for 2023 is up slightly from 2022. See how your school district did.