To prosper, Michigan must be a more educated place. Bridge will explore the challenges in education and identify policies and initiatives that address them.
It’s a tale of two university systems: The state’s flagship schools, along with Michigan Tech, have expanded enrollment in the past decade while 12 other public universities lost a collective 46,000 students, amid a smaller pool of high school graduates.
Anthony Barnes and Brittney Tylenda say they know when to ask for help, but worry about their less-experienced peers who have had to learn on the fly during COVID-19
CMU has lost more than 11,000 students since 2012. In an internal email, the school’s head of recruitment placed blame with the administration, which she said has been outhustled by competitors for students from metro Detroit.
Referencing the popular musical “Hamilton,” Grand Rapids Community College president Bill Pink said if he is confirmed as the next president of Ferris State University, he will be in the ‘room where it happens’ to encourage more people to pursue higher education.
Pushing for the best price and finding a school that’s the right fit are just two factors to consider when deciding where to enroll in the fall, according to two top college advisors.
Republicans say the grants would help parents to choose private academic programs to help their children catch up after COVID. Democrats are wary, saying any extra funds should go directly to schools to help struggling students.
The House and Senate bills differ a bit, but they both reflect broad, bipartisan support for quickly getting more teachers in Michigan classrooms amid a critical teacher shortage.
Dorm occupancy was just 63 percent this year, prompting CMU to consolidate its on-campus housing. It’s another example of the effects of waning enrollment in some of Michigan’s universities.
Educators howled when legislators passed a law allowing school staffers to serve as substitutes temporarily. Months later, hardly any schools regularly take advantage of the law.
Students tell a forum hosted by Bridge Michigan, Chalkbeat Detroit and Detroit Free Press that they have little faith in the mental-health services they receive at school.
The pandemic exacerbated a slow-burning mental health crisis in Michigan’s schools. Whitmer wants to open 40 centers to help. Advocates say that’s not enough.
Some public schools are reporting double-digit declines, as certainty over in-person classes fuels increases in private school enrollment. Homeschooling also is up.
An unprecedented $6 billion in federal COVID relief money has come to Michigan to help schools, with mental-health support one of its pillars. It’s a lot of money, but young students will need a lot of help.
The educators, a wife and husband, say staying in a field they love became “unsustainable.” Their frustration and disillusionment is reflected in recent teacher surveys, which show roughly 1-in-5 Michigan teachers are thinking about leaving.
Michigan State University announced Thursday that it will soon allow students and staff to be unmasked in many indoor settings. There are exceptions including in classrooms and in healthcare facilities.
If approved, parents could choose their children’s tutoring, software, or other education support from a “marketplace” of education vendors to help boost their education following the disruption of COVID-19.