A letter from the Executive Director
Dear friends,
Today Michigan is one of the lowest performing states in the nation for student improvement. Once we were the envy of many states for our public education system. Today we are facing an educational recession that is taking a terrible toll on our state’s future,
our workforce and especially, our children.
The good news is, we can change this. And we can do it in a relatively short amount of time. Leading education states such as Massachusetts and Tennessee show that when we work together, we can transform our schools, raise our teaching and learning – and do
best by our children, educators and public institutions.
Over the last month, we’ve had the blessing of traveling across the state to share these findings based on our new
2014 State of Michigan Education report. Civic leaders, journalists, grassroots activists, educators, parents – we have been buoyed by the reception and the quality of conversations that we have had about these issues.
Michiganders truly care about their schools – and they support sensible strategies and investments for improvement.
From
Nolan Finley of the Detroit News to the
Detroit Free Press editorial board, leaders have been calling for the Michigan legislature to continue to lead – and do its part by investing in such smart strategies. The time to invest in a new educator support and evaluation
system – and quality training for educators – has come this spring. We also need to ensure Michigan stays on track to implement new college- and career-ready standards in all of our schools.
We encourage you to reach out to your local lawmakers and leaders to urge them to invest in these proven strategies that are paying off for raising teaching and learning in leading states.
We turned around our economy. We can do it with our public schools.
Thank you for reading – and for your efforts to support all of our students.
All the best,
Amber
Overcoming Michigan's "education recession"
Released in early April, ETM's 2014 State of Michigan Education report -- “Stalled to Soaring:
Michigan’s Path to Educational Recovery” -- is the result of months of research and a year of Ed Trust-Midwest’s efforts to monitor where Michigan is making progress on improving public education.
The report has been covered by media outlets across the state. Some highlights:
Detroit Free Press
Detroit News
MLive/ Bridge Magazine
Michigan Radio
Other media outlets
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April 22, 2014
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Monday, April 21- Wednesday, April 23
YOUTH VOICE and Student Advocacy Center are planning a walk from Detroit to Lansing to end unjust suspensions and
expulsion. Students and supporters will relay walk for 48 hours to show their commitment to their education and their future.
“Walk with ME
Michigan Education”
relay walk on Monday, April 21st at 8:00am from Detroit to the steps of Lansing State Capitol on Wednesday, April 23rd at 9:00am.
If you are interested in forming a team to walk for 5 miles or volunteer in another way, please email Kayla as soon as possible.
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Monday, May 5
The Prosperity Coalition, in partnership with the Michigan League for Public Policy, presents:
OPPORTUNITY & EQUITY 2014
Monday, May 5, 2014
9:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. (8:30 a.m. registration)
Sheraton Detroit Novi Hotel
21111 Haggerty Road
Novi, MI 48375
Register for the event here
Noteworthy News
Education groups uniting around bills to revamp teacher evaluations
Jake Neher, Michigan Radio
No Child Left Behind waiver in jeopardy if teacher evaluations not implemented, federal officials
say Brian Smith, MLive
Missouri Weighs Steps for Intervening in Troubled Schools
Lesli A. Maxwell, Education Week
Do Teachers Need More 'Grit'?
Teaching Ahead: A Roundtable, Education Week
U.S. Students Are Not Overburdened by Homework, Study Says
Samantha Stainburn, Education Week
Will Michigan schools run out of money?
Steven Cook, Detroit News Op-ed
Racially motivated bullying is common in Michigan schools, federal database shows
Brian Smith, MLive
Parental Involvement Is Overrated
Keith Robinson and Angel L. Harris, New York Times Op-ed
Do 72 percent of for-profit programs have graduates making less than high school dropouts?
Glenn Kessler, Washington Post
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