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These are the big Michigan education issues we’re watching in 2023

A student smiles sitting at a desk in a brightly lit classroom

Some districts are betting that tutoring programs like this one in Ecorse will help students accelerate their learning after test scores fell this year.

Sylvia Jarrus for Chalkbeat

COVID may no longer be forcing schools to shut down, but its effects on students, teachers, parents, and administrators will linger into 2023.

Issues related to the pandemic figure in nearly every one of the top education issues for 2023. So do issues related to a power shift in Lansing, where Democrats will hold the governor’s office and control the Michigan Legislature for the first time in decades. This shift, thanks to a blue wave in the November general election in Michigan, could produce big changes on issues such as charter school transparency, the state’s third-grade retention law, and school funding.

“This is a legislature that could do a fair bit in a bipartisan fashion, because I think most of (what we need) is not partisan,” said state Superintendent Michael Rice, recently. “I think much of this is common sense.”

Here are the topics we’ll be closely following:

Chalkbeat Detroit bureau chief Lori Higgins contributed to this report.

Tracie Mauriello covers state education policy for Chalkbeat Detroit and Bridge Michigan. Reach her at tmauriello@chalkbeat.org.

Koby Levin is a reporter for Chalkbeat Detroit covering K-12 schools and early childhood education. Contact Koby at klevin@chalkbeat.org.

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The report cites key health indicators for parents and children, as well as policy changes. But the state still lags the national average in some areas.
The Rev. Larry Simmons wondered why children were roaming the streets of Brightmoor during school hours. That was the start of a campaign that continues today. Schools “need other partners to come to the table,” he says.
Detroit and suburban charter schools that enroll large numbers of city students have overall seen a bigger enrollment drop than Detroit district schools.
Lawmakers advanced a proposal that would let retirees take public school jobs immediately without giving up their pensions.
Vitti is already looking ahead to next year’s contract and the need to retain mid-career teachers.