“Our education crisis compromises our workforce.” Plus key education committees, news and more from The Education Trust Midwest

Feb 19, 2019 by edtrustmidwest

Last week, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer delivered her first State of the State address. Speaking about the state of public education in Michigan, Governor Whitmer noted that, “third graders in Michigan rank in the bottom ten in the country in reading…Michigan has experienced the worst decline in childhood literacy. And the decline has been consistent across every racial and economic group in our state.” Later in the address, the Governor made the case that, “[o]ur education crisis compromises our workforce!”

“From early childhood through post-secondary, public education in Michigan is in great need of serious improvement,” said Amber Arellano, executive director of the Education Trust-Midwest, in response to the address. “Over nearly two decades, the quality of Michigan’s public education system has slipped from average to near national bottom, and is now among the lowest performing for African American and Latino students, and students from low-income families in key subject areas. Michigan did not get here overnight, and a true educational recovery will take time, as well.”

During the State of the State, Governor Whitmer spoke about Michigan’s low and declining early literacy rates, school funding challenges, the need to support educators and the impact of Michigan’s educational challenges on Michigan’s workforce. She also announced a statewide goal of increasing the number of Michiganders with a post-secondary credential to 60 percent by 2030. In pursuit of that goal, Governor Whitmer outlined “MI Opportunity Scholarship,” which would provide scholarship funds to qualifying students at Michigan 2- and 4-year colleges and universities.

The Education Trust-Midwest looks forward to partnering with the Governor, legislators on both sides of the aisle, civic leaders and educators to make quality education a reality for every Michigan student.

#LoveTeaching Week

Now through February 21 is #LoveTeaching week – a grassroots conversation that celebrates teaching and learning, and illuminates why teachers enter and remain in the profession. Join the conversation by sharing why you #LoveTeaching!

Education Committees Named

Over the past few weeks, education committees in the Michigan House of Representatives and State Senate have been named. Members of the House Ways and Means Committee are listed below. Legislation passed by the House Education Committee will also need to be approved by the House Ways and Means Committee before considered by the full House of Representatives.

House Ways and Means Committee

Chair: Brandon Iden (R – 61st District)
Vice-Chair: Jim Lilly (R – 89th District)
E ric Leutheuser (R – 58th District)
B eth Griffin (R – 66th District)
R oger Hauck (R – 99th District)
B ronna Kahle (R – 57th District)
J ason Wentworth (R – 97th District)
Minority Vice-Chair: Rebekah Warren (D – 55th District)
W endell Byrd (D – 3rd District)
S heldon Neeley (D – 34th District)
K evin Hertel (D – 18th District)

Capital Update

House Education Committee meets today, February 19, at 9:00 a.m. in room 521 of the House Office Building. Agenda: House Bill 4162 (Reilly, R) which would eliminate the requirement for high school students to take an assessment designed to measure workforce readiness, such as the ACT WorkKeys, from Michigan’s high school requirements.

House School Aid and Department of Education Appropriations Subcommittee will meet on Wednesday, February 20 at noon in room 352 of the State Capitol Building. Agenda: presentation on Michigan’s population by the Department of Technology Management and Budget (DTMB) State Demographer.

House ASC Higher Education and Community Colleges Appropriations Subcommittee will meet on Thursday, February 21 at 9:00 a.m. in room 519 of the House Office Building. Agenda: Presentations by Northern Michigan University, Michigan State University and Lake Superior State University. Presentations by other state universities will continue in future weeks. Previously, Eastern Michigan University, Grand Valley State University, University of Michigan, Michigan Technological University and Western Michigan University presented to the subcommittee.