Education
Sarah Riggs Stapleton: It can take a village to feed hungry kids in schools
One in six American children faces hunger and three out of four teachers report regularly seeing hungry kids in their classrooms. In response, school meals make up a large fraction of federal food assistance. The National School Lunch Program is the second-largest federal food assistance program, serving 30.4 million children. It is complemented by the […]
Kowalski demands accountability, accuses MSU of ‘scare tactics’
Bailey Kowalski, the 22-year-old Michigan State University senior who came forward Wednesday as the anonymous plaintiff in a Title IX complaint over the reporting of her alleged rape, addressed the media in an emotional press conference Thursday. “Today marks the anniversary of my gang rape four years ago,” Kowalski said. “I am coming out today […]
Whitmer creates panel of public school advisers
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed an executive order today creating a formal advisory council that will “advise the governor and make recommendations for legislation relevant to Michigan’s public education system.” The Governor’s Educator Advisory Council will include 15 members appointed by the governor who will represent “various roles in Michigan’s public education system,” including the state’s […]
As 3rd grade reading law looms, Detroit district takes new literacy program national
Jenise Williams, a first-year kindergarten teacher at Burns Elementary-Middle School in Detroit, is enjoying her rookie year helping students become better readers. At the same time, her district has just publicly launched one of its key new resource tools to improve student literacy called ModEL Detroit. The online program utilizes visuals, single words and short […]
MSU student comes forward as plaintiff in rape suit, says school discouraged reporting
A 22-year-old woman came forward Wednesday as the plaintiff in a previously anonymous lawsuit against Michigan State University over her alleged rape by members of the school’s men’s basketball team, according to a New York Times report. MSU student Bailey Kowalski was a freshman at the time. She said that when she approached MSU counselors […]
DeVos defends charter schools, axing protections for transgender students
U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos returned to Capitol Hill on Wednesday, making the case for increasing funding for charter schools and education choice — issues close to the West Michigan native’s heart. DeVos has testified before several U.S. House panels since March, with majority Democrats zeroing in on the fiscal year 2020 budget that eliminated […]
Brian Calley: Michigan’s public-private partnership with the Special Olympics means everyone wins
In my first term as lieutenant governor, I led the bipartisan and bicameral Mental Health and Wellness Commission. We took a comprehensive and expansive look at several aspects of life and society for those living with neurological differences, including mental illnesses, developmental disabilities or substance use disorders. This work focused on health care, education, employment, […]
Nessel joins state AGs urging DeVos to disclose student loan data
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel is one of almost two dozen top state law enforcement officials from around the country who are demanding better access to student loan data from U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos. Nessel’s office on Tuesday announced that the Democrat would join 19 other attorneys general in signing a letter to […]
State board springs new social studies standards, despite GOP cries of bias
Officials from the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) defended their proposed new standards for the state’s social studies curriculum on Tuesday during an occasionally heated State Board of Education meeting. The meeting was held in the wake of a recent New York Times report that highlighted the now-years-long controversy over those standards. Some Michigan Republicans, […]
MSU grad student union says new contract hurts foreign students
Michigan State University’s graduate student employee union is crying foul over the university’s rejection of its latest contract re-negotiation, which it says will negatively impact international employees. Members of the union filled an MSU building lobby Thursday to grade papers in protest of the latest contract and the university nixing several union proposals. Those would […]
State Board of Education narrows down superintendent search
The State Board of Education has announced the names of the five candidates who will be considered for Michigan’s state superintendent. Those five semifinalists, out of 51 total applicants, are Ann Arbor Public Schools Superintendent Jeanice Swift; Kalamazoo Public Schools Superintendent Michael Rice; the Wayne County Regional Educational Service Agency (RESA)’s Superintendent Randy Liepa; and […]
Education officials say A-F grading system violates federal law, Chatfield disagrees
Portions of a new grading system for public schools may violate federal law, according to Michigan’s top education officials — but GOP legislative leaders won’t support efforts to bring it in line with federal standards. State House Speaker Lee Chatfield (R-Levering) won’t back changes to the state’s new A-F ranking system, according to spokesman Gideon […]