In Michigan, students learning English as a second language are not receiving the English instruction, counseling services, social work services or supplemental programming needed for them to meet the state’s rigorous academic standards.
I see it every day as a consultant in Oakland Schools who works with school districts to develop English Learning Language programs that best serve their students.
LANSING, Mich. — The following is a statement from Dr. Wanda Cook-Robinson, School Finance Research Collaborative Project Director:
“I applaud Gov. Whitmer for recognizing the need for a new, fairer school funding approach that meets the unique, individual and wide-ranging learning needs of all students in tonight’s State of the State address,” said Dr. Wanda Cook-Robinson, School Finance Research Collaborative Project Director. “Using Michigan’s first comprehensive school adequacy study as a roadmap, we look forward to working with the governor as we chart a new path toward fixing Michigan’s broken school funding approach, ensuring every Michigan student has the same opportunity at getting a good education and competing for 21st century jobs.”
The School Finance Research Collaborative is a diverse group of business leaders and education experts, from Metro Detroit to the U.P., who agree it’s time to change the way Michigan’s schools are funded. Read the full Collaborative report.
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For media inquiries, contact Christopher Behnan, Byrum & Fisk Communications, at (517) 333-1606, ext. 1
LANSING, Mich. — The School Finance Research Collaborative today applauded Gov. Gretchen Whitmer for making a high-quality education for all Michigan students a top priority in her upcoming State of the State address, according to media reports.
“The School Finance Research Collaborative applauds Gov. Whitmer for her commitment to providing a high-quality education to all Michigan students, and for making education a top priority in her upcoming State of the State address,” said Dr. Wanda Cook-Robinson, School Finance Research Collaborative Project Director. “Using Michigan’s first comprehensive school adequacy study as a roadmap, we look forward to working with the governor on a new, fairer school funding approach that meets the unique, individual needs of all students and prepares them for 21st century careers.”
In 2018, the School Finance Research Collaborative completed Michigan’s first comprehensive school adequacy study that determined the true cost of educating all students to make the way we fund Michigan’s schools more fair. The Collaborative is a bipartisan, diverse group of business leaders and education experts from all corners of Michigan who agree it’s time to change the way Michigan’s schools are funded.
“A high-quality public school education is essential to preparing our kids for the fiercely competitive modern workforce in any business large or small across Michigan, and I am excited to see Gov. Whitmer placing this issue at the top of her To Do List,” said Doug Maibach, Chairman of Barton Malow Enterprises. “We must chart a new path that ensures all students, regardless of their circumstances, have the same opportunity at getting a cutting-edge education that provides them with in-demand skills for good-paying jobs. I agree with Gov. Whitmer’s statement of the issue, ‘Everyone in Michigan has a right to an educational path to success — whether that is a certificate in the skilled trades, technical apprenticeship or to pursue a college- track career.’”
“Our schools are struggling to meet student performance standards, and our students will continue falling behind their peers around the globe without a new school funding approach that meets their wide-ranging needs,” said former Michigan House Speaker Rick Johnson, R-Leroy. “Now is the time for change, and I look forward to working with Gov. Whitmer to fix Michigan’s broken school funding approach to make it more fair for all students.”
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For media inquiries, contact Christopher Behnan, Byrum & Fisk Communications, at (517) 333-1606, ext. 1