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Earlier this year, I appointed eleven parents and family members to the Michigan Parents’ Council. These parents represented a diverse range of viewpoints and educational experiences, including parents who have children in public, private, and homeschool; special education; English as a second language; and foster or kinship care. The council also includes a K-12 policy advisor and a designated representative from Michigan Department of Education.
Over the last few months, the council conducted seven regional roundtables, a virtual statewide event and an online parent survey to engage parent and caregiver voices. The council held roundtables in:
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Flint
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Marquette
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Midland
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Detroit
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Battle Creek
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Grand Rapids
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Eastpointe
This past Friday, we shared the final report of the Parents’ Council. The goal of the council was to get parents involved in education policy decisions and help Michigan kids as we ensure students are on track for long term success.
The Michigan Parents’ Council connected with over 13,500 parents, and collected feedback from all 83 counties, and more than 500 school districts. Based on the responses, the council has made recommendations to me on policy and budget initiatives.
The recommendations included a consensus among parents that education policy and budget initiatives should continue to:
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Prioritize and support access to student mental health and school safety funding for schools in the state budget, including funds for counselors and social workers, school programming, and curricula
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Provide schools with the resources and flexibility to meet the unique learning needs of every student
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Continue supporting creative teacher recruitment and certification funding strategies
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Expand opportunities for parents and students to give feedback on state and local education policy and budget initiatives
For four years in a row, I have worked across the aisle to make the largest education investments in Michigan history—without raising taxes. Since taking office, I have tripled the number of literacy coaches, closed the funding gap between schools, boosted state per-student investment to an all-time high, invested in school infrastructure, expanded learning supports, and helped districts hire thousands of teachers and on-campus mental health professionals.
For the next four years, I will continue to invest in our education system and engage with parents to ensure they have a say in their child’s learning and their future. Together, we can make a positive, lasting impact on all Michigan students.
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