Hey, Michiganders (er, Michiganians)! It’s officially the first day of school in Michigan for districts and charters that didn’t get the OK from the state to start early. The back to school shopping is all done, all the supplies are in the backpacks, and the kids are back in the classroom. Now it’s time to turn our focus to news you’ll need to know heading into this 2022-23 school year.
Here, we’ve compiled some Chalkbeat stories with important information on some key issues, such as COVID safety protocols, test score performance, third-grade retention, chronic absenteeism, and staffing challenges.
Also, be sure to sign up for our newsletter here, and read more about our team here.
COVID safety protocols
Emily Elconin for Chalkbeat
Where Michigan school districts stand on COVID protocols
Grace Tucker / Chalkbeat
Masks are now optional for Detroit district students
Attendance/Chronic absenteeism
Sylvia Jarrus for Chalkbeat
Detroit launches attendance initiatives as rising absenteeism threatens pandemic recovery
Courtesy of Chrystal Wilson
Detroit’s back-to-school enrollment efforts take on new urgency
Staffing vacancies
Allison Shelley / The Verbatim Agency for EDUimages
Michigan’s teacher shortage: What’s causing it, how serious is it, and what can be done?
Nic Antaya for Chalkbeat
Michigan programs provide route for second-career teachers. Are they rigorous enough?
Lori Higgins / Chalkbeat
Detroit school district moves closer to being fully staffed
Legislative action
5 policy changes affecting Michigan classrooms, cafeterias, and school buses
Tom Williams / CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images
Betsy DeVos-backed school voucher-like initiative submits Michigan petitions
Di’Amond Moore / Detroit Free Press
6 Michigan education proposals that lawmakers punted to the fall
COVID relief spending
Tracie Mauriello / Bridge Michigan / Chalkbeat
COVID aid is a lifeline for financially troubled Michigan districts. Can they stay healthy?
Sylvia Jarrus for Chalkbeat
Without state leadership, Michigan’s patchwork tutoring programs struggle to address learning loss
State of Michigan
Gov. Whitmer proposes $280 million tutoring investment for Michigan
Michigan student test performance
Nic Antaya for Chalkbeat
Michigan test scores down sharply from pre-pandemic
Rachel Wisniewski for Chalkbeat
Reading skills gap grows in Michigan
Nic Antaya for Chalkbeat
Detroit district students slide back on M-STEP tests as pandemic challenges linger
Ethan Bakuli is a reporter for Chalkbeat Detroit covering Detroit Public Schools Community District. Contact Ethan at ebakuli@chalkbeat.org.