Parent views on distance learning, #ThankATeacher and a bright future for frontliners.
Parent Views on Distance Learning
The Education Trust-Midwest is surveying Michigan parents to better understand what is working, what is not working, and what parents and students need when it comes to distance and online learning. The information shared by parents will help inform Michigan educators and policymakers, and is critical to understanding how school closures are impacting student learning at home.
Please take 7 minutes to complete the survey and share with your network!
Thanking Teachers This Week and Always
This week marks Teacher Appreciation week, a time for parents and students to recognize the care, dedication and talent of our classroom educators. With schools now closed for the year, the role of teachers in supporting students and parents is even more impactful than before.
Nominate a teacher who you are especially thankful for by replying to this email with the name, school or district and a sentence or two on why you are thankful their work and we will post it on our social media account. You can also tweet @EdTrustMidwest your nomination using #ThankATeacher.
Future for Frontliners
Last week, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced “Futures for Frontliners,” which would provide frontline workers who do not have a college degree with tuition-free pathway to a technical certificate, 2-year degree or 4-year degree.
If enacted by the legislature, the proposed program would support postsecondary programs for a wide range of essential workers, including grocery store employees, hospital and nursing home staff, delivery drivers and some child care providers. Governor Whitmer has proposed that funding from the program would come from federal stimulus dollars passed as the CARES Act.
Earlier this year, the Michigan legislature passed MI-Reconnect on a bipartisan basis. This program, which would provide tuition free postsecondary education to working adults without a college degree was first proposed by Governor Whitmer in her 2019 State of the State address. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, MI-Reconnect has not yet been funded.
Noteworthy News
- Opinion: Current crisis an opportunity for school reform – Amber Arellano & Tom Watkins, The Detroit News
- ‘Governor, now is the time’: Detroit district officials want Whitmer to settle landmark literacy lawsuit – Eleanore Catolico, Chalkbeat Detroit
- Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announces Future for Frontliners to give college tuition for essential employees – Fox 2 Detroit
- Here’s how some schools are celebrating the Class of 2020. Try not to cry – John Wisely, Detroit Free Press
- What comes next for public schooling – John King & Randi Weingarten, The Hill