Education Trust–Midwest

New Additions to The Education Trust-Midwest Team Help Michigan Students

Posted August 31, 2011 - 10:21am by djacobs

ANN ARBOR, MICH. (August 31, 2011) - Today the Education Trust-Midwest (Ed Trust-Midwest) is pleased to announce two new additions to our growing team. Regina Bell, Field Director, and Sarah Winchell Lenhoff, Assistant Director of Policy and Research, join the Ed Trust-Midwest with deep experience in policymaking and education, inside and outside of Michigan classrooms.

Ed Trust-Midwest Executive Director Amber Arellano shares commentary in the 43rd Annual Phi Delta Kappa/Gallup Poll

Posted August 19, 2011 - 2:34pm by djacobs

ANN ARBOR, MICH. (August 19, 2011) - Every year Phi Delta Kappa/Gallup Poll produces a report on Americans’ view of education. This 43rd Annual report dives into the attitudes toward public schools. This 43rd Annual Phi Delta Kappa/Gallup Poll contains commentary by Amber Arellano, executive director of the Education Trust-Midwest and other Americans regarding attitudes toward the public schools.

Statement on Historic Education Reforms Passed by Michigan Legislature

Posted July 1, 2011 - 11:47am by djacobs

LANSING, MICH. (June 30, 2011) — Tonight the Michigan legislature made history by reforming antiquated teacher tenure and other laws that have been powerful barriers to ensuring all Michigan students are taught by effective teachers. The groundbreaking laws also provide a new potential pathway for the development of more consistent and reliable evaluation of educators and improved professional development for our teachers.

“All of our kids deserve the best teachers that our state and nation can provide. We applaud lawmakers for their courage in passing these reforms despite intense pressure from adult-focused special interest groups,” said Amber Arellano, executive director of The Education Trust-Midwest, a Michigan-based education policy and advocacy organization.

Ed Trust-Midwest Comments on Gov. Snyder's Education Speech

Posted April 27, 2011 - 4:08pm by djacobs

DETROIT, MICH. (April 27, 2011) —Today, Gov. Rick Snyder moved to make students a higher priority and to ensure that all of Michigan’s classrooms are staffed by high-quality teachers. We applaud his recognition of the importance of teachers to our students, but urge him to take further steps to ensure that his proposals are smartly implemented. Students must remain a top priority as the state pursues the governor’s ideas, such as performance bonuses and charter school expansion.

The Education Trust-Midwest has advocated rigorously for Gov. Snyder to enact dramatic teacher quality reforms. The Snyder administration has paid attention, and is proposing revamping Michigan tenure law and teacher lay-off policies. Today, the governor proposed to award tenure based on three years of effective teacher performance. He also pushed for teaching performance to trump seniority in school lay-off and placement decisions.

Ed Trust-Midwest Statement on Detroit’s NAEP Science Results

Posted January 11, 2011 - 10:53am by djacobs

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (February 24, 2011) – “Detroit’s devastating results on the science portion of the National Assessment of Educational Progress underscore the importance of thoughtful policymaking as state and city leaders seek to address the Detroit Public Schools’ urgent financial crisis. Any pathway forward must make student achievement a top priority and should be focused on proven, researched-based strategies for improving student learning.

“But Detroit isn’t alone. Many Michigan districts face similar fiscal and academic challenges. We need state leadership to find sustainable, comprehensive plans for the future to help all of our young people – particularly low-income students and students of color – achieve at high levels.”