Ed Trust-Midwest Applauds Snyder’s Education Agenda
Publication date: Jan 20, 2015
State leaders need to invest to make the agenda produce results for Michigan students
ROYAL OAK, MICH. (January 20, 2015) – Tonight, Michigan Governor Rick Snyder laid out his 2015 agenda for Michigan education, calling for the state to improve early literacy and teaching effectiveness, and voter approval of a sales tax increase that would both fund roads and provide stronger school funding.
“We applaud Gov. Snyder’s proposed education agenda,” said Amber Arellano, executive director of The Education Trust-Midwest. “To make this agenda work for students, state leaders need to make critical investments in 2015.”
As highlighted in Ed Trust-Midwest’s 2014 report on leading education states, Gov. Snyder’s proposed agenda draws on lessons from leading states for education, including Tennessee and Massachusetts. An appalling 69% of Michigan fourth graders cannot read at grade level, according to the national assessment.
“Leading and high-growth states such as Tennessee provide a roadmap of proven policies and investments that will help all students achieve more and transform Michigan into a top ten education state,” Arellano said. “Raising third-grade reading levels, and investing in supporting teachers and school leaders to teach at higher levels, are proven strategies to raise student learning for all of our children.”
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The Education Trust-Midwest is a statewide, nonpartisan, education research, information and advocacy organization focused on what is best for Michigan students, particularly low-income, African American, Latino and American Indian students. We provide data-driven information and expertise to our state’s families, educators and policy and civic leaders about how to make Michigan a top education state and close our achievement gaps.
www.edtrustmidwest.org
