- Bridge Reporter Isabel Lohman joined WJR All Talk with Kevin Dietz about Bridge Listens
- Literacy scores, absenteeism and gubernatorial candidates’ education pitches were all discussed on the show
- Bridge is asking readers to nominate their top issues for the 2026 election in a nomination form
Bridge Michigan and WJR-760 kicked off an election season-long collaboration on top issues this week, with an in-depth conversation about the state’s education challenges.
Education reporter Isabel Lohman joined the “All Talk with Kevin Dietz” show to discuss test scores, absenteeism, teacher training and turnover, as well as the impact of school funding and teacher unions.
You can watch WJR-760 All Talk here.
The collaboration — known as “Election 2026 Coverage that Matters to Michigan” — is part of Bridge Listens, a year-long effort to help identify and discuss the top election issues in Michigan before the 2026 election.
“Bridge Michigan, of course, we always want to fact check folks and we want to be on the campaign trail and see what the leaders are saying,” Lohman told Dietz. “But we also get emails every single day, calls from people all across the state who have questions about what’s going on.
“And they don’t get to talk directly to the leaders. So we felt we could be that bridge between what their questions are and what the leaders are saying.”
Related:
- Bridge Listens Issues Watch recap: What do Michigan voters think of education?
- Michigan pits small, big schools for funding. It’s an unfair fight, leaders say
- Up North Michigan, schools struggle between pull of home and promise of college
- Bridge Listens: Can Michigan fix its education woes? What to know
- Bridge Listens: How Michigan’s next governor will try to fix K-12 schools
Education is a top concern amongst Michiganders, cited by more than 1 in 4 readers.
Bridge asked every leading gubernatorial candidate how they would address low literacy scores, college and career readiness trends and school funding debates. All of them responded.
Reporters also appeared on Michigan Public to share what gubernatorial candidates are pitching to help schools and hosted a virtual event this week to answer questions from readers.
This week, Bridge reporters did a deep dive into the challenges facing Michigan schools. Bridge also reported on the unique challenges rural students and schools face in getting career technical education.
To stay up-to-date on Michigan’s education system, sign up for any of our free email newsletters, including our twice-weekly Education Watch newsletter.
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