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.
Making progress toward equitable funding for underserved students will necessitate big strides
By Amber Arellano, Executive Director, The Education Trust-MidwestWhen it comes to improving education in Michigan, we have such a long way to go toward creati…
REPORT: Michigan Vastly Underfunds Vulnerable Students Compared to Leading States
New bipartisan coalition calls on state leaders to implement equitable funding strategies, eliminate automatic budget cuts to funding for students from low-inc…
Statement by Amber Arellano, executive director of the Education Trust-Midwest, on the passage of School Aid budget for fiscal year 2021-22.
“We have been pleased in the last few weeks to see elected leaders from both sides of the aisle put aside their political differences to craft a budget for Mic…
Heard on WDET: Amber Arellano talks about strategies to help Michigan students catch up as many return to school
As many students returned to their classrooms on Monday for the first time since the start of the pandemic, Education Trust-Midwest Executive Director Amber Ar…
Rebuilding Equitably: Overcoming Educational Inequity through Michigan’s Budget
The past year has demonstrated the fragility of Michigan’s public education system and longstanding inequities, amid the rapidly evolving global pandemic. One …
The Education Trust-Midwest’s statement on the MI COVID Recovery Plan
The statement below may be attributed to Amber Arellano, executive director, The Education Trust-Midwest“We applaud Governor’s Whitmer’s proposal to invest mor…
December 2020 Federal COVID-19 Relief and Year End Funding Package
Jan 14, 2020 by Riley Stone and Tabitha BentleyThe federal government passed a funding package late in December 2020. One part of that package was anothe…
Bridge Michigan Opinion | Michigan’s leaders can act now to mitigate learning losses
As Michigan looks to turn the page on one of the most troubled years in recent memory, a bright spot is emerging as the governor and legislative leaders have e…
Amid COVID-19, millions of students may have stopped attending school
Interrupted learning may have dire consequences for student learning, especially for the most underserved students.When schools closed in March amid the COVID-…
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…
Bridge Michigan Opinion | No cuts for schools is good news; more work needed on fair funding
Never before in modern U.S. history has there been a more important moment for our state to commit to supporting all of our students, by recognizing every chil…
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…
