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All students – no matter their race or family income – deserve a quality education. The Education Trust-Midwest researches, develops policy and advances efforts to make this goal a reality. Join our effort and take action in support of an excellent and equitable public education for Michigan students.

How can you get involved?

  • Stay informed! Join our email list to receive weekly updates
  • Browse our resources to learn more about important education issues
  • Tell your legislator that you care! Check back often for legislative action alerts
  • Join the conversation on Twitter and Facebook.

Active Issues & Legislation

Past Issues & Legislation

Educator Support, Feedback & Evaluation

Testimony: Testimony to the House Education Reform Committee in opposition to HB 5707; Video, Sept. 6, 2018
Law: Public Act 173 of 2015 – Senate Bill 103 (Pavlov – St. Clair Township)
Statement: Enactment of Key Law to Improve Teaching and Learning in Michigan, November 5, 2015
Press Release: Teaching Quality Progress a Win for Michigan Students, October 20, 2015
Testimony: Incorporate Best Practices from Leading States to Build Statewide Educator Evaluation System, June 4, 2015
Video: Testimony to the House Education Committee, June 4, 2015
Testimony: Michigan Must Support Its Most Valuable Education Resources – Teachers and School Leaders. April 21, 2015
Audio: Testimony to the Senate Education Committee, April 21, 2015
Research: Good for Teachers, Good for Students: The Need for Smart Teacher Evaluation in Michigan, November 2012

Academic Standards & Aligned Assessments

Formal Comment: Education Trust-Midwest’s Public Comment on Draft Michigan K-12 Social Studies Standards – Sept. 21, 2018
Statement: Education Trust-Midwest’s Statement in Opposition to House Bills 6314 & 6315, “Public Innovative Districts” – Nov. 11, 2018
Testimony: Education Trust-Midwest in Opposition to House Bill 4192
Commentary on Senate Bill 826 (2016) – Anti-Standards Bill Threatens to Move Michigan Backward, April 26, 2016
Press Release: New Assessment Scores Show Need for Michigan to Remain on Track with M-STEP, August 30, 2016
Press Release: Honest State Data Shows Troubling Achievement Gaps, December 17, 2015
Press Release: The Education Trust-Midwest thanks lawmakers for their support of Common Core, high student standards, October 24, 2013

Michigan's ESSA Plan

New Law: Public Act 306 of 2016 – House Bill 4822 (Price – Park Township)
Testimony: Michigan Must Learn from Leading States to Truly Raise Third-Grade Reading Levels, March 26, 2015
Presentation: Achievement and Opportunity in Michigan, March 26, 2015
Video: Testimony to the House Committee on Education, March 26, 2015
Research: Stalled to Soaring: Michigan’s Path to Educational Recovery, April 2014

Other Legislation

Testimony: Testimony to the House Education Reform Committee in support of House Bill 5526. Video, Feb. 8, 2018
Legislation: Public Act 269 of 2015 – Senate Bill 571 (Kowall – White Lake)
Letter: Letter to Governor Snyder, Urging a Veto of SB 571, December 23, 2015

Michigan's ESSA Plan

Press Release: Michigan Moves Forward with Plans to Weaken Honest K-12 Public Reporting, School Accountability and Support Systems, Nov. 29, 2017
Statement: DeVos Greenlights Michigan’s Unacceptably Weak Plan for Public Education, Nov. 28, 2017
Plan: Michigan’s  final ESSA plan,  Nov. 28, 2017
Formal Comment: Education Trust-Midwest’s Public Comment on Michigan’s Every Student Succeeds Act Consolidated Draft Plan, March 14, 2017
Analysis: Becoming Top Ten: An Analysis of Michigan’s ESSA Plan, March 1, 2017