State Superintendent Mike Flanagan to stay on the job
The Michigan Board of Education has extended the contract of state Superintendent of Public Instruction Mike Flanagan , the Associated Press reports. The AP reports: The decision means Flanagan will...
View ArticleMichigan Democrats pick their favorites in state races
DETROIT (AP) Democrats have chosen their favorites for this falls Michigan Supreme Court and education board races, hoping once again to give their candidates a five-month jump in fundraising and...
View ArticleGovernor’s annual education summit to meet in East Lansing
State officials, teachers, school administrators and researchers will mingle today at a day-long education conference in East Lansing. This will be the 17 th annual Governors Education Summit. Last...
View ArticleMichigan legislators seeking to create 'Wild West' of unregulated schools?
State Board of Education President John Austin published a commentary in MLive yesterday. He's raises big concerns over a series of education overhaul bills working their way through Michigan's lame...
View ArticleIn this morning's news: Michigan Medicaid expansion, charter schools, Flint...
Michigan Medicaid expansion uncertain Legislation that will determine the future of Michigan Medicaid is at a standstill. On Thursday, the state Senate passed a budget bill that did not include...
View ArticleState Board of Education opposes snow-day bill
The State Board of Education is recommending Michigan public school districts add additional days, not additional hours, to the school year to make up for this year’s snow days. Last year, Gov. Rick...
View ArticleMichigan schools get funds for year-round classes
LANSING – Several Michigan schools are expected to get money to help transition from the traditional school calendar to a year-round calendar as part of a pilot program. MLive.com reports the State...
View ArticleState Board of Education to unveil plans this week on charter school issues
The state Board of Education will urge the state Legislature to revisit Michigan’s charter school law. It’s a reaction to a recent Detroit Free Press series that suggested conflicts of interest, a...
View ArticleMichigan voters don't know much about the candidates for state board of...
Okay, now, here’s a test: How many members of the state board of education can you name? Don’t feel bad. I can’t name them all either. What’s more, many people don’t even realize we elect these folks,...
View ArticleGroup aims for increase in post-secondary degrees for Michiganders
The Michigan Postsecondary Credential Attainment workgroup wants more people in Michigan to obtain some type of post-secondary credential by 2025. That's according to a report the workgroup released...
View ArticleFeds investigate Michigan school district for transgender discrimination
At Bedford Public Schools in Monroe County, transgender students are only allowed to use the gender-neutral bathrooms. That's even if they've asked to use the bathrooms matching their gender identity.
View ArticleTransgender students speak out for state LGBT proposals
It was a tense, emotional afternoon at the Michigan Board of Education. In the two months since the board put out a draft proposal for how schools could choose to support LGBT kids, it’s become a major...
View ArticleWhat happens when the first transgender kid comes out at school
Kylie Clifton has long, thick waves of blonde hair, the same sandy shade as her mom's. And the day Kylie's mom took her to the salon to get those hair extensions – that was a big day. And not just...
View ArticleWhat's the deal with the backlash against gender-neutral bathrooms?
"What bathrooms can transgendered people use?" has become a hot-button question not only in Michigan, but across the United States. Public comments pour in as the Michigan Board of Education continues...
View ArticleMichigan's attorney general tells White House to "retract" transgender guidance
Attorney General Bill Schuette sent a letter to the Obama administration this week, blasting it for the recent school guidance over transgender students. So far, 12 states have sued the Obama...
View Article200,000 voters can't be wrong. Discrimination is alive and well in Michigan.
The state officially certified Michigan’s election returns two days ago, and though the focus was on the extremely close presidential race, there was something I found even more troubling in another...
View ArticleWeek in Review: State income tax bill fails and school closure decision drags on
A Republican-backed bill to rollback Michigan's income tax died on the floor of the state House early Thursday morning. This Week in Review, Weekend Edition host Rebecca Kruth and senior news analyst...
View ArticlePolitical roundup: How relevant is the elected Michigan Board of Education?
Some members of the Legislature want to eliminate the elected Michigan Board of Education . They say the Board of Education has become little more than a debating society. But, if it’s so irrelevant,...
View ArticleState Board of Education names deputy as interim superintendent
The state Board of Education has named an interim replacement for state schools superintendent Brian Whiston , who died suddenly this week. Before he left on disability leave last week, Brian Whiston...
View ArticleWhy you should be paying attention to the State Board of Education race
There are two open seats on the Michigan Board of Education that will be voted on this midterm election. Eleven candidates are running for the seats, which have an 8-year term. Koby Levin of Chalkbeat...
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