Mich. Ed. Roundup – Feb 28
High academic standards help all students succeed
Last week, Cheryl Corpus wrote a moving article on her story – the inspiration for becoming an educator – and how Michigan’s academic standards honor and advance the value of each student. Corpus is a national board certified teacher (NBCT), director for Michigan NBCT in West Michigan, and associate director of ETM’s Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning.
“Everyone has value and potential: This belief lies at the heart of education, and it’s why I’ve devoted my career to it,” said Corpus. “Michigan’s high academic standards are one way we show our students that we value them and believe they can succeed. The standards are challenging and ask students to apply their knowledge and skills in new ways. If students meet the standards, they’ll be more prepared to succeed in college, careers, and the community.”
An effort to repeal Michigan’s academic standards and replace them with standards first adopted more than a dozen years ago is underway in the Michigan House of Representatives. Educators from across Michigan are raising their voices to encourage lawmakers to move Michigan forward, not backward.
“With more time and support for high standards, we can show our students we believe they have potential and can succeed, regardless of where they come from,” concluded Corpus.
Click hear to read the full article.
Public Comment on Michigan’s ESSA Plan
Earlier this month, the State Superintendent presented his draft plan for implementing the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) in Michigan. The plan covers a wide range of topics, including public reporting on school success, school accountability, equitable access to high-quality teaching and learning, and efforts to improve schools struggling to meet the needs of their students, or groups of students within their building.
Public comment on the plan is being accepted through March 16 and the MDE expects to submit the final ESSA plan by April 3. Comments may be submitted to [email protected] or starting tomorrow ETM’s ESSA Portal at EdTrustMidwest.org/ESSA.
Noteworthy News
- High academic standards help all students succeed – Cheryl Corpus, The Rapidian
- School slide worries suburban parents, and should worry Lansing, too – Nancy Kaffer, Detroit Free Press
- Watkins: Test scores call for urgency – Tom Watkins, The Detroit News
- #MyBlackHistory: My Mom Had to Lie to Get Me Into a Good School. No Parent Should Have to Do That – Nate Bowling, Education Post
- Michigan students performing at the bottom of the pack nationally – Brian McVicar, MLive
- Week in Review: Michigan school closing decisions delayed – but still looming – Erin Einhorn, Chalkbeat Detroit
Capital Update
House School Aid and Education Appropriations Subcommittee meets today, February 28 at 10:30 a.m. in room 352 of the State Capitol Building. Agenda: Presentation on shared-time instruction for nonpublic students and a presentation on seat-time waivers and innovation.
Senate Education Committee meets today, February 28 at noon in Room 1300 of the Binsfeld Building. Agenda: Senate Bill 27 (Pavlov – R) to repeal section 1280c of the Revised School Code – which authorizes the State School Reform/Redesign Office, and SB 174 (Knollenberg – R), regarding the accreditation of public schools.
Senate K-12, School Aid and Education Appropriations Subcommittee meets today, February 28 at 2 p.m. in the Harry T. Gast Appropriations Room on the 3rd Floor of the State Capitol Building. Agenda: Updates from the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) on the Great Start Readiness Program and the Innovation Council, and an update on financial data analytics from Munetrix.
House Committee on Education Reform meets on Thursday, March 3 at 9 a.m. in Room 521 of the House Office Building. Agenda: Presentation by Natasha Baker, the State School Reform Officer and a presentation from the MDE on accountability services and the partnership district model that has been proposed in the MDE’s ESSA plan.
Tweet of the Week
