Research shows that early literacy is hugely important for future student success. If students cannot read on grade-level by the end of third grade, they are more likely to drop out of school, have behavioral problems and have less academic success than their peers.
During the 2015-16 school year, only 46 percent of Michigan third-graders were at or above grade level in reading and writing, a sad fact that shows just how far our state has fallen in preparing our students to succeed.
It is vitally important to future learning and success that all students be able to read. We need more investments and strategies to help boost literacy rates, among all grade levels but particularly for early grades.
Equity Edition: We need you! Join the Opportunity for All campaign!
The team at the Education Trust-Midwest has been hard at work advancing priorities for the coming fiscal year centered on investing in students and establishin…
Equity Edition: Michigan’s School Funding System Leads to Gaps in Opportunity
Policy changes can lead to a fairer school funding system Michigan is one of the most inequitable states for school funding, leading to profound opportunity an…
Community Leaders Issue Statement Calling for More Funding Equity Following Signing of School Aid Budget
The following civil rights, civic and business leaders have joined together to issue the statement below upon Gov. Whitmer’s signing of the School Aid Budget f…
Statement from the Education Trust-Midwest on Bipartisan Budget Maintaining Per-Pupil Funding and Including a One-Time Per-Student Increase
More must be done in future budget cycles to address structural inequities and meet the needs of at-risk students, students with disabilities, English learners…
Equity Edition: Bipartisan Budget Maintains Per-Pupil Funding and Includes One-Time Per-Student Increase
More must be done in future budget cycles to address structural inequities and meet the needs of at-risk students, students with disabilities, English learners…
Statement by The Education Trust-Midwest on Emerging School Aid Budget Framework
The following statement may be attributed to Amber Arellano, executive director of The Education Trust-Midwest.“The emerging School Aid Budget framework …
The Equity Edition: School Aid Fund Revenue Estimate and Equitable Funding Coverage
New projections for the budget year beginning on October 1 confirm that the state will have significant shortfalls, even as estimates have improved since May. …
Statement from The Education Trust-Midwest on School Aid Fund Revenue Estimate
ROYAL OAK, Mich. (Aug. 24, 2020) ― The following statement may be attributed to Amber Arellano, executive director of The Education Trust-Midwest."State budget…
The time is now to equitably invest in Michigan’s students
By Jennifer MrozowskiAs the conversation intensifies in Michigan and nationally on how to plug budget shortfalls due to the COVID-19 economic crisis, it’s crit…
The Equity Edition: A call for prioritizing public education and equitable budget strategies
In a new analysis, ETM unveils equitable funding options to shield vulnerable students amid projected budget shortfalls By Jennifer MrozowskiAt a time of great…
Ed Trust-Midwest Joins Business, Civil Rights and Civic Leaders in a Campaign Calling on Leaders to Invest in Michigan’s Students, Adopt Fairer School Funding
(July 28, 2020) – At a time of great inequality of opportunity deepened by the COVID-19 crisis, The Education Trust-Midwest and a broad cross-section of busine…
Modeling: Fair Funding Scale
The Education Trust-Midwest (ETM), in partnership with The Education Trust, conducted extensive modeling to identify more equitable formulas that could replace…
The Equity Edition: Equity centered plans to support vulnerable students
Resources can help district and school leadership teams, community leaders and advocates prepare equity-centered plans to support vulnerable studentsBy Jennife…
Underinvestment and inequality place Michigan near bottom
by Jen MrozowskiMichiganders must address decades-long underinvestment in education and opportunity gaps disproportionately impacting the state's most vulnerab…
Budget decisions must prioritize equity amid pandemic shortfalls
As state leaders weigh potentially devastating budget shortfalls due to the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting economic shutdown, equitable funding for education …
Fair funding for schools, financial aid for students and calling future colleagues.
Nearly 400 messages have been sent by Michiganders to the Governor and legislative leaders, urging Michigan to prioritize fairness in opportunity and equity in…
Statement and Brief on Gov. Whitmer’s Proposed Budget
ROYAL OAK, Mich. (Feb. 7, 2020) — The following statement may be attributed to Amber Arellano, executive director of The Education Trust-Midwest:“A high-qual…
Reading a focus of the Gov and a pledge for fair funding
In her second State of the State address, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer spoke to the critical needs of ensuring that students are prepared to learn as the…
New Report: School Funding System Failing to Provide Equal Opportunities
Michigan is now in the bottom five states nationwide for equitable school funding, and should take immediate steps to invest much more in students from low-inc…
Michigan’s School Funding: Crisis and Opportunity
Michigan’s public education system is facing a crisis by many important measures. Compared to other U.S. states, Michigan ranks sixth from the bottom for educa…
