Michigan Parents for Schools
@mi-parents4schls.bsky.social
Public interest advocacy nonprofit working for sensible education policy and strong community governed public schools in Michigan
Pinned
Where we stand. | Michigan Parents for Schools
mipfs.org
Where we stand: a strong education depends on the rule of law; good citizens must know their own nation's history; and children need to be taught to see the strength in diversity, the justice in fairness, and the compassion in belonging. All these things are currently under assault.
Part of our work is offering honest data analysis of education policy matters in Michigan, and critical data comes from agencies like the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Manipulating official statistics to please the current leadership is, well, what dictatorships do.
open.substack.com/pub/sjnorton...
open.substack.com/pub/sjnorton...
August 10, 2025 at 6:20 PM
Part of our work is offering honest data analysis of education policy matters in Michigan, and critical data comes from agencies like the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Manipulating official statistics to please the current leadership is, well, what dictatorships do.
open.substack.com/pub/sjnorton...
open.substack.com/pub/sjnorton...
Some useful history on Michigan's Proposal A system of school funding, from former State Representative Lynn Jondahl. A sincere bipartisan compromise, it was never meant to be the last word.
How a “BLT” of Republicans and Democrats Teamed Up to Reform Michigan’s School Finance System - MI Good Government
One July day in 1993, Michigan had a system to pay for public schools across the state. The next day it was gone.
migoodgovernment.com
July 10, 2025 at 10:47 PM
Some useful history on Michigan's Proposal A system of school funding, from former State Representative Lynn Jondahl. A sincere bipartisan compromise, it was never meant to be the last word.
This is highly disturbing - and also ironic, given the accusations that public schools are currently "indoctrinating" students. Tactic: accuse your opponents of doing what you really want to do .
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Oklahoma's Department of Education will use right-wing propaganda outlet PragerU to create a test for determining eligibility to teach in that state, a test that will measure applicants' belief in "American exceptionalism" and acceptance of transphobic gender ideology: is.gd/pV29Kv
Oklahoma's Department of Education will use right-wing propaganda outlet PragerU to create a test for determining eligibility to teach in that state, a test that will measure applicants' belief in "American exceptionalism" and acceptance of transphobic gender ideology: is.gd/pV29Kv
Red state will require new teachers pass PragerU 'America First' test to keep license
Oklahoma partners with PragerU to implement new teacher assessment to ensure educators who have relocated to the state align with its America-first educational standards.
is.gd
July 10, 2025 at 10:38 PM
This is highly disturbing - and also ironic, given the accusations that public schools are currently "indoctrinating" students. Tactic: accuse your opponents of doing what you really want to do .
Our take on the MI House school aid budget, the more confusing and opaque of the two competing bills. It's not good news.
House K-12 budget shell game | Michigan Parents for Schools
mipfs.org
July 2, 2025 at 7:50 PM
Our take on the MI House school aid budget, the more confusing and opaque of the two competing bills. It's not good news.
Reposted by Michigan Parents for Schools
Students flagged for retention score 0.045 standard deviations higher in literacy next year, but the effect is driven by the provision of intensive supports rather than retention itself, from Jordan Berne, Brian Jacob, Christina Weiland, and Katharine Strunk https://www.nber.org/papers/w33764
May 12, 2025 at 5:00 PM
Students flagged for retention score 0.045 standard deviations higher in literacy next year, but the effect is driven by the provision of intensive supports rather than retention itself, from Jordan Berne, Brian Jacob, Christina Weiland, and Katharine Strunk https://www.nber.org/papers/w33764
Does the "retention" part of 3rd grade flunking really make a difference? UMich researchers find the impact comes from intensive help to avoid retention. At the time, supporters said it was not a fix but to "incentivize" people - students?, parents?, teachers? How about help without the threat?
The Impacts of Grade Retention Policy With Minimal Retention
State laws that mandate in-grade retention for struggling readers are widespread in the U.S., covering 34% of public-school third graders in 2023-24. This study investigates the impacts of Michigan’s ...
edworkingpapers.com
May 15, 2025 at 7:33 PM
Does the "retention" part of 3rd grade flunking really make a difference? UMich researchers find the impact comes from intensive help to avoid retention. At the time, supporters said it was not a fix but to "incentivize" people - students?, parents?, teachers? How about help without the threat?
The first of a couple of interesting research working papers to come across our desk recently: this paper by MSU researcher Antonia Gordon examines the impact of previous emergency manager experience on the willingness to engage with MDE's partnership model. Annenberg Inst, Brown Univ.
State Intervention and Racialized Policy Aversion in Michigan's Black School Districts
For the past thirty years, Michigan has used Emergency Management (EM) and receiverships to solve city and school finance issues. The impact of these state intervention policies has been highly public...
edworkingpapers.com
May 15, 2025 at 7:24 PM
The first of a couple of interesting research working papers to come across our desk recently: this paper by MSU researcher Antonia Gordon examines the impact of previous emergency manager experience on the willingness to engage with MDE's partnership model. Annenberg Inst, Brown Univ.
Reposted by Michigan Parents for Schools
CATO Institute not a fan of the voucher scheme (interestingly, this was also the position of Heritage in their pre Project 2025 days)
May 15, 2025 at 2:25 PM
CATO Institute not a fan of the voucher scheme (interestingly, this was also the position of Heritage in their pre Project 2025 days)
Reposted by Michigan Parents for Schools
So weird how party of the working class keeps accidentally rewarding wealthy investors. Case in point: the voucher program that was smuggled into the big beautiful bill - & which just happens to give stockholders a new loophole for avoiding capital gains taxes www.the74million.org/article/a-tr...
May 15, 2025 at 12:51 PM
So weird how party of the working class keeps accidentally rewarding wealthy investors. Case in point: the voucher program that was smuggled into the big beautiful bill - & which just happens to give stockholders a new loophole for avoiding capital gains taxes www.the74million.org/article/a-tr...
[Based on the # of librarians hired by districts, Michigan] "ranks 47th in the nation for school librarians per student.... The number of school librarians in the state dropped 73% between 2000 and 2016 – one of the biggest declines in the country.
Proposed federal cuts threaten Michigan library services essential to K-12 students
As the state attempts to tackle its literacy woes, these cuts would threaten early literacy programs in local libraries.
www.chalkbeat.org
May 15, 2025 at 2:47 AM
[Based on the # of librarians hired by districts, Michigan] "ranks 47th in the nation for school librarians per student.... The number of school librarians in the state dropped 73% between 2000 and 2016 – one of the biggest declines in the country.
That would be welcome, given the evidence of the importance of class size to student success. However, first the state has to be willing to raise new revenue to fund an increase in the number of teaching positions. @pamelapughmi.bsky.social
Michigan's State Board of Education is calling for mandatory limits on class sizes to be implemented by the 2030-31 school year.
The resolution comes after an investigation by The @detroitnews.bsky.social that published in April. www.detroitnews.com/story/news/p...
The resolution comes after an investigation by The @detroitnews.bsky.social that published in April. www.detroitnews.com/story/news/p...
State Board of Education calls for smaller class sizes after Detroit News investigation
The proposal, if enacted by state lawmakers, would represent a sea change for Michigan schools as leaders look to boost struggling literacy rates.
www.detroitnews.com
May 15, 2025 at 2:38 AM
That would be welcome, given the evidence of the importance of class size to student success. However, first the state has to be willing to raise new revenue to fund an increase in the number of teaching positions. @pamelapughmi.bsky.social
Coming to a district near you? State orgs helping to run "no" campaigns for school millages. NB - the author of this piece is with the Mackinac Center, a conservative think tank.
Reitz: Midland’s surprising ‘no’ vote sends message on school spending
Midland voters clobbered a school bond proposal on May 6 with a stunning 68% “no” vote.
www.detroitnews.com
May 15, 2025 at 2:33 AM
Coming to a district near you? State orgs helping to run "no" campaigns for school millages. NB - the author of this piece is with the Mackinac Center, a conservative think tank.
Reposted by Michigan Parents for Schools
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"Exclusionary discipline" - suspending students for relatively minor infractions - is supposed to "improve the learning environment by removing disruptive students." A recent study proves, on the contrary, that it's harmful for everyone: bit.ly/3IUnB24
"Exclusionary discipline" - suspending students for relatively minor infractions - is supposed to "improve the learning environment by removing disruptive students." A recent study proves, on the contrary, that it's harmful for everyone: bit.ly/3IUnB24
APA PsycNet
bit.ly
May 14, 2025 at 11:59 AM
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"Exclusionary discipline" - suspending students for relatively minor infractions - is supposed to "improve the learning environment by removing disruptive students." A recent study proves, on the contrary, that it's harmful for everyone: bit.ly/3IUnB24
"Exclusionary discipline" - suspending students for relatively minor infractions - is supposed to "improve the learning environment by removing disruptive students." A recent study proves, on the contrary, that it's harmful for everyone: bit.ly/3IUnB24
From the article: "Though it’s only launched three DEI cases probing school districts, the investigations are beginning to paint a broad picture of what the administration might consider 'illegal DEI practices.'”
Parents reporting “illegal” Spirit Week activities — too “DEI” www.edweek.org/policy-polit...
What Is 'Illegal DEI?' Trump Admin.'s School Probes Start to Paint a Picture
Department probes focused on rooting out DEI have mostly targeted colleges. But the Trump administration is also looking toward K-12.
www.edweek.org
May 14, 2025 at 3:21 PM
From the article: "Though it’s only launched three DEI cases probing school districts, the investigations are beginning to paint a broad picture of what the administration might consider 'illegal DEI practices.'”
Reposted by Michigan Parents for Schools
Public Money, Private Control: Inside New Orleans’ Charter School Overhaul bigeasymagazine.com/...
Public Money, Private Control: Inside New Orleans’ Charter School Overhaul - Big Easy
New Orleans became a national model for charter reform after Katrina. Two decades later, who really benefited—and who was left behind?
bigeasymagazine.com
May 13, 2025 at 12:00 PM
Public Money, Private Control: Inside New Orleans’ Charter School Overhaul bigeasymagazine.com/...
Reposted by Michigan Parents for Schools
Ethnic studies turns out to give a huge boost to struggling high school students. Attendance, GPA, engagement all go up - but does any of this matter in our era of backlash and culture war? @haveyouheard.bsky.social heads to southern California to find out soundcloud.com/haveyouheard...
#198 Ethnic Studies ‘Works.’ Does That Even Matter Anymore?
We’re headed to California, where high school students will soon be required to complete an ethnic studies course in order to graduate. The policy has set off the predictable culture war response, wit
soundcloud.com
May 13, 2025 at 2:19 PM
Ethnic studies turns out to give a huge boost to struggling high school students. Attendance, GPA, engagement all go up - but does any of this matter in our era of backlash and culture war? @haveyouheard.bsky.social heads to southern California to find out soundcloud.com/haveyouheard...
Reposted by Michigan Parents for Schools
Democracy isn't a four year project. It's something we build, protect, and invest in- day after day, year after year. That's the work in front of us. And, at Integrated Schools, we know that integrated public schools are at the heart of it. #publicschoolssavedemocracy
May 13, 2025 at 3:04 PM
Democracy isn't a four year project. It's something we build, protect, and invest in- day after day, year after year. That's the work in front of us. And, at Integrated Schools, we know that integrated public schools are at the heart of it. #publicschoolssavedemocracy
Reposted by Michigan Parents for Schools
Fast Fact: 26% of all charter schools shut down by year 5. Learn more about charter schools and how they impact YOUR local public schools at the National Center for Charter School Accountability. networkforpubliceduc...
May 13, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Fast Fact: 26% of all charter schools shut down by year 5. Learn more about charter schools and how they impact YOUR local public schools at the National Center for Charter School Accountability. networkforpubliceduc...
Reposted by Michigan Parents for Schools
Check out this powerful op-ed penned by one of my incarcerated students in the BC Prison Education Program. He's convinced that if he'd had access to social and emotional learning tools as a kid the *trail of destruction* that's been his life might have been avoided www.chalkbeat.org/2025/05/12/i...
In prison, I finally learned to embrace social and emotional learning
I can’t help but wonder what my life might have been like if I’d had access to these tools in grade school.
www.chalkbeat.org
May 12, 2025 at 5:38 PM
Check out this powerful op-ed penned by one of my incarcerated students in the BC Prison Education Program. He's convinced that if he'd had access to social and emotional learning tools as a kid the *trail of destruction* that's been his life might have been avoided www.chalkbeat.org/2025/05/12/i...
Read our most recent newsletter to our advocacy community, including our statement of where we stand on the Trump Administration's assault on the law, education, and efforts to build a just society.
Turning back the assault on public education
mailchi.mp
May 6, 2025 at 4:10 AM
Read our most recent newsletter to our advocacy community, including our statement of where we stand on the Trump Administration's assault on the law, education, and efforts to build a just society.
Reposted by Michigan Parents for Schools
"Children know when they are not loved." Dr. Gholdy Muhammad shares powerful insights on the role of love in education on the *Integrated Schools Podcast*. Learn how love transforms classrooms and why it's crucial for student success. 🎧 @gholdym
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integratedschools.org/podcast/s11e...
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integratedschools.org/podcast/s11e...
May 5, 2025 at 4:04 PM
"Children know when they are not loved." Dr. Gholdy Muhammad shares powerful insights on the role of love in education on the *Integrated Schools Podcast*. Learn how love transforms classrooms and why it's crucial for student success. 🎧 @gholdym
...
integratedschools.org/podcast/s11e...
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integratedschools.org/podcast/s11e...
Reposted by Michigan Parents for Schools
The Education Department’s civil rights office once helped push a South Dakota school district to treat its Native students equally.
Under Trump, that same office decided that helping Indigenous students would discriminate against white students: propub.li/3GIdTRr
Under Trump, that same office decided that helping Indigenous students would discriminate against white students: propub.li/3GIdTRr
May 6, 2025 at 1:40 AM
The Education Department’s civil rights office once helped push a South Dakota school district to treat its Native students equally.
Under Trump, that same office decided that helping Indigenous students would discriminate against white students: propub.li/3GIdTRr
Under Trump, that same office decided that helping Indigenous students would discriminate against white students: propub.li/3GIdTRr
Reposted by Michigan Parents for Schools
Rest in power: An epic fighter for public schools that serve all kids, Julie Woestehoff died earlier this month. Chicago’s public schools are better for the many battles Julie initiated and won: www.chicagotribune.com/2025/03/26/j...
Julie Woestehoff, Chicago education activist who urged local control of schools, dies
Julie Woestehoff the longtime executive director of Chicago-based Parents United for Responsible Education (PURE), has died.
www.chicagotribune.com
March 26, 2025 at 11:12 PM
Rest in power: An epic fighter for public schools that serve all kids, Julie Woestehoff died earlier this month. Chicago’s public schools are better for the many battles Julie initiated and won: www.chicagotribune.com/2025/03/26/j...
Your budget shows where your priorities lie.
Trump budget proposal slashes $6 billion from K-12 spending but gives charters a bump
https://www.chalkbeat.org/2025/05/03/trump-budget-proposal-slashes-education-spending-gives-states-power/
https://www.chalkbeat.org/2025/05/03/trump-budget-proposal-slashes-education-spending-gives-states-power/
Trump budget proposal would give states more power over a lot less money
President Donald Trump’s proposed budget cuts nearly $6 billion from K-12 education. Unlikely to become law, the proposal offers insight into plans to give states more control over federal funds. Just don’t use them for DEI.
www.chalkbeat.org
May 3, 2025 at 8:55 PM
Your budget shows where your priorities lie.
Reposted by Michigan Parents for Schools
From the #NPE2025Columbus Conference - Jess Piper: False promise of choice vimeo.com/1076804229 @piperformissouri.bsky.social @dianeravitch.bsky.social
Jess Piper: False promise of choice
Jessica Piper, an advocate for rural families and their schools, explains the false promise of school choice. She explains how Missouri government has stranded…
vimeo.com
April 21, 2025 at 12:27 PM
From the #NPE2025Columbus Conference - Jess Piper: False promise of choice vimeo.com/1076804229 @piperformissouri.bsky.social @dianeravitch.bsky.social