(The Center Square) – Following a Michigan Department of Education report showing drops in reading and math proficiency in some grades, Michigan House Republicans have unveiled a multi-step plan to boost student achievement and teacher support.
The plan would provide extra funding for school safety and mental health resources, waive state fees for teachers and modernize the standard curriculum, State Reps. Jaime Greene, R-Richmond, and Nancy DeBoer, R-Holland, announced Monday.
“Far too many of our students are walking across the graduation stage without the skills they need to thrive in college or the workforce,” Greene said. “It’s time to recognize that what our state has been doing isn’t working. We could point to a hundred different statistics, but it boils down to this: our kids can’t read, they’re struggling with math, and they’re walking out of high school without the skills and knowledge they need to succeed. We have a solution that offers new and better opportunities for students and equips parents and teachers with more tools to ensure every child can reach their full potential.”
To do this, Greene said, a modernization of Michigan’s Merit Curriculum is necessary. The Republican plan would have schools provide more career and trades-tailored classes, such as coding, construction math and accounting.
Providing further support for students interested in the trades, the plan includes expanding dual enrollment to include trade schools, which Republicans say will help parents save money and students get a head start at both college and career training.
The plan also advocates launching a pilot program to explore alternatives to the M-STEP test, instead spreading testing throughout the year.
DeBoer highlighted her sponsored budget bill, which would restore $305 million in school safety and mental health funding to replace the cuts in the budget.
“Parents are worried about the safety and well-being of their kids. This is one of the biggest issues we’re hearing from local communities,” said DeBoer. “The cuts made in next year’s budget would force schools to lay off critical staff, leaving students without the support they need. Our plan fixes this, keeping students safe and supported in school.”
The plan calls for the Michigan Department of Education to review and recommend research-backed curriculums, and to consolidate administrative services across school districts.
For teachers in training, the plan would eliminate fees for teaching certificate applications, as well as renewals and endorsements. It would also streamline the process for teachers to obtain additional subject area endorsements and ensure that teacher preparation programs provide expert-led and evidence-based programs.
“It’s time we come together to create a meaningful plan that lifts up our students, parents, and teachers – and that’s exactly what our plan does,” said Greene. “It brings our education system into the modern age, gives parents information they need to plan an active role in shaping their kids’ education, and makes sure our teachers have the resources they need to succeed in the classroom.”
Michigan Democrats have also taken steps to improve student achievement and school environments, such as providing funds for school security improvements, technology upgrades, and transportation vehicles, supporting tutors and after school literacy and math programs, and granting $328 million for mental health and school safety in fiscal year 2023.
