Michigan
News, analysis, and opinion about K-12 education in Michigan
Law & Courts
When Blocking Social Media Critics, School Officials Have Protections, Supreme Court Says
The court said public officials' own pages may be "state action," but only when they are exercising government authority.
School & District Management
Teacher Layoffs Are Mounting. How Districts Can Soften the Blow
Layoffs are coming in districts large and small. Here's how district leaders can handle them.
Reading & Literacy
How One District Moved to a 'Knowledge-Building' Curriculum: 3 Key Takeaways
Don't expect teachers to be experts in every subject, and make sure to address comprehension strategies, too, say district leaders.
Reading & Literacy
Reading Comprehension Hinges on Building Knowledge. New Curricula Aim to Help
Students need to know a lot of content to become good readers. Enter new curriculum series, which prioritized shared texts exploring history, science, and literature.
Student Well-Being
How Districts Can Keep After-School and Summer Learning Alive After ESSER Dries Up
Roughly 8 in 10 school districts spent some of their federal COVID relief funds on after-school or summer learning.
School & District Management
A New (and Cheaper) Approach to Lead-Free Drinking Water in Schools
Schools in Michigan will be required to install filters on heavily used water fountains, then test to make sure they're working.
States
Opinion
Michigan’s Gov. Whitmer Has a Message for Teachers: Move to a State That Has Your Back
There are two competing visions for public education playing out across the country, writes Gretchen Whitmer. Here’s a vision for supporting teachers.
Equity & Diversity
Schools Struggle to Properly Count Native Students. Some States Want Them to Try Harder
Michigan recently became the latest state to require the collection of data on Native K-12 students' tribal affiliations.
States
Massachusetts Joins Short List of States Providing Free School Meals to All
States are stepping in where federal COVID-relief aid dropped off.
School & District Management
School Shooting Survivors at Odds With District Over Graduation Cords
Oxford graduating seniors want to wear special orange gun violence survivor cords at commencement. But the district says no.
Law & Courts
Their District Banned 'Let's Go Brandon!' Shirts. Now Students Are Suing
The Michigan students wore hoodies with the coded message critical of President Biden, which their district says is inappropriate for school.
Teaching
'Everybody at School Wants to Play': Chess Is Trendy Again
The ancient game is surging in popularity among young people.
Budget & Finance
From Our Research Center
Inflated Costs, Growing Needs: Why Educators Are Pessimistic About School Budgets
More than half of educators believe increasingly complex needs of students are driving up per-pupil expenses, new data show.
Reading & Literacy
Michigan's 3rd Grade Retention Law Held Back More Black and Low-Income Students
Parents' advocacy and ability to navigate exemptions might explain the difference, new research finds.