{"id":63048,"date":"2025-07-21T12:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-07-21T16:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/uncategorized\/michigan-spent-big-fix-schools-result-worse-scores-and-plenty-blame\/"},"modified":"2026-02-22T21:39:38","modified_gmt":"2026-02-23T02:39:38","slug":"michigan-spent-big-fix-schools-result-worse-scores-and-plenty-blame","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/talent-education\/michigan-spent-big-fix-schools-result-worse-scores-and-plenty-blame\/","title":{"rendered":"Michigan spent big to fix schools. The result: Worse scores and plenty of blame"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><b>In 10 years, Michigan boosted K-12 education spending more than 41 states<\/b><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><b>The result: More staffers and worse test scores. \u2018We invest more per pupil than most states and achieve bottom 10 results\u2019<\/b><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><b>There\u2019s plenty of blame, and one consensus: Michigan needs a wake-up call to fix crisis<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p>Frustrated by declining academic performance in state schools, education leaders in 2015 announced an audacious goal: make Michigan a top 10 education state by 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIf 10 years from now we\u2019re not a top 10 performing state, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.michiganpublic.org\/education\/2015-09-23\/shame-on-us-if-were-not-a-top-10-school-system-in-10-years-says-michigans-school-superintendent\">then shame on all of us<\/a>,\u201d said then-State Superintendent Brian Whiston.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>During the next decade, Michigan beefed up staffing, increased <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bridgemi.com\/talent-education\/michigan-touts-free-pre-k-all-its-more-complicated\">free early childhood education<\/a> and opened its cafeterias for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bridgemi.com\/talent-education\/michigan-made-school-meals-free-all-students-ate-it\">free breakfast and lunch<\/a> \u2014 efforts predicted to improve learning. By the end of 10 years, Michigan boosted classroom funding by an inflation-adjusted $2.1 billion, the ninth-largest hike among all states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And Michigan students fell further behind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Today, Michigan\u2019s children are learning less than their peers in every other Midwest state, as measured by a national test often called<a href=\"https:\/\/nces.ed.gov\/nationsreportcard\/\"> the nation\u2019s report card<\/a>. There are poorer states where students fare better, as well as states that spend less money and get far better results. Most have recovered quicker from pandemic learning loss than Michigan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And now, Mississippi, long ridiculed for having one of the worst school systems in the nation, has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bridgemi.com\/talent-education\/mississippi-turned-around-its-schools-its-secret-tools-michigan-abandoned\">zoomed ahead of Michigan in state rankings<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignright is-layout-grid wp-container-core-group-is-layout-9649a0d9 wp-block-group-is-layout-grid\">\n<div class=\"dr-paragraph right-aligned-blockquote-xl dr-paragraph--right-aligned-blockquote-xl\">\n<div class=\"region region--float-right region--float-right-xl dr-paragraph right-aligned-blockquote-xl dr-paragraph--right-aligned-blockquote-xl\">\n<div class=\"region__content\">\n<div class=\"infogram-embed\" data-id=\"c6aba240-6585-49f3-8268-03fb2fd38f6d\" data-title=\"State by state learning loss 2025\" data-type=\"interactive\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<p><script>!function(e,n,i,s){var d=\"InfogramEmbeds\";var o=e.getElementsByTagName(n)[0];if(window[d]&&window[d].initialized)window[d].process&&window[d].process();else if(!e.getElementById(i)){var r=e.createElement(n);r.async=1,r.id=i,r.src=s,o.parentNode.insertBefore(r,o)}}(document,\"script\",\"infogram-async\",\"https:\/\/e.infogram.com\/js\/dist\/embed-loader-min.js\");<\/script>\n\t        <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019ve reached an \u2018emperor doesn\u2019t have any clothes\u2019 situation,\u201d said Venessa Keesler, former deputy superintendent at the Michigan Department of Education and now president of education advocacy group Launch Michigan.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cMississippi is like everybody\u2019s wake-up call.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Bridge Michigan analyzed state-by-state data over the past decade and spoke to more than 40 people involved in education policy here and across the nation. Their reactions to Michigan\u2019s education slide ranged from frustration to dismay to resignation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Some blame past underfunding of schools; others point fingers at weak leadership, stubborn interest groups and a muddled command and control system that thwarts reform.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>All warned of the devastating repercussions of not fixing the state\u2019s failing schools, from hobbling the economy to exacerbating population decline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Education is shaping up as a key issue in the 2026 campaign to succeed term-limited Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. Candidates are lining up platforms with familiar promises, a testament to the difficulty of reforming a fractured system even when most agree that change is needed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Among the changes undertaken by successful states are two never tried in Michigan, despite a cacophony of proposals: clamping down on local control and sticking with reforms long enough to see if they work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe reality is we invest more per pupil than most states and achieve bottom 10 results,\u201d said Whitmer in her 2025 State of the State address.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s not acceptable.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><b>A \u2018truth bomb\u2019&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>By many measures, Michigan\u2019s schools have gone in the wrong direction since the Michigan Department of Education and the Michigan State Board of Education set a goal of being a top 10 state by 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignright is-layout-grid wp-container-core-group-is-layout-9649a0d9 wp-block-group-is-layout-grid\">\n<div class=\"dr-paragraph right-aligned-blockquote-xl dr-paragraph--right-aligned-blockquote-xl\">\n<div class=\"region region--float-right region--float-right-xl dr-paragraph right-aligned-blockquote-xl dr-paragraph--right-aligned-blockquote-xl\">\n<div class=\"region__content\">\n<div class=\"infogram-embed\" data-id=\"ded01f04-7e5f-485e-bbbd-9415bc254047\" data-title=\"State Ed Funding over time\" data-type=\"interactive\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<p><script>!function(e,n,i,s){var d=\"InfogramEmbeds\";var o=e.getElementsByTagName(n)[0];if(window[d]&&window[d].initialized)window[d].process&&window[d].process();else if(!e.getElementById(i)){var r=e.createElement(n);r.async=1,r.id=i,r.src=s,o.parentNode.insertBefore(r,o)}}(document,\"script\",\"infogram-async\",\"https:\/\/e.infogram.com\/js\/dist\/embed-loader-min.js\");<\/script>\n\t        <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>School funding is up 10%, after adjusting for inflation, in the past decade, even as enrollment dropped 8%, from 1.49 million to 1.37 million.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Staffing is up 14%, too, buoyed in part by a surge of federal COVID-19 spending. Districts in 2024-25 employed 3,950 more teachers than in 2015, as well as 22,142 more aides, up 29.2%.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Despite more money and staff, national test scores are falling or stagnant, and Michigan has a greater learning loss from the pandemic than most other states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>States like South Carolina, once behind Michigan, have passed it. In 2013, when Michigan ranked 38th in 4th grade reading, South Carolina ranked 44th. By 2024, it was ranked 24th in fourth-grade reading. Michigan fell to 44th.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And in a separate analysis of pandemic learning loss, Michigan students remained more than six months behind in reading in 2024 from where they were in 2019. That loss is the 8th worst in the nation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Michigan\u2019s slide can be seen in every demographic group and geographic setting. Urban, suburban and rural districts all reported substantial learning loss and, on the NAEP, both the state\u2019s economically disadvantaged students and their wealthier classmates recorded some of the biggest drops in the nation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While Michigan students do better on math tests, with results that are middle of the pack, experts consider elementary reading scores to be more of a marker to future academic success.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Related:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bridgemi.com\/talent-education\/fact-check-whats-true-false-misleading-about-michigans-education-slide\"><strong>Fact check: What\u2019s true, false, misleading about Michigan\u2019s education slide<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bridgemi.com\/talent-education\/mississippi-turned-around-its-schools-its-secret-tools-michigan-abandoned\"><strong>Mississippi turned around its schools. Its secret: Tools Michigan abandoned<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Robert McCann, executive director of the education advocacy group K-12 Alliance of Michigan, downplayed the pertinence of the low 2024 NAEP scores, calling them \u201can anomaly\u201d that doesn\u2019t represent the good work done in Michigan classrooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But that\u2019s a misreading of data, said Marguerite Roza, a research professor at Georgetown University who studies education finance decisions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI don\u2019t think any year is an anomaly,\u201d Roza said. \u201cIf your (NAEP) numbers are trending down, it\u2019s time to make some changes. If you\u2019re trending up, keep at it.\u201c<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignright is-layout-grid wp-container-core-group-is-layout-9649a0d9 wp-block-group-is-layout-grid\">\n<div class=\"dr-paragraph right-aligned-blockquote-xl dr-paragraph--right-aligned-blockquote-xl\">\n<div class=\"region region--float-right region--float-right-xl dr-paragraph right-aligned-blockquote-xl dr-paragraph--right-aligned-blockquote-xl\">\n<div class=\"region__content\">\n<div class=\"infogram-embed\" data-id=\"b7195e2c-7d3c-47ee-99e2-312e16718a24\" data-title=\"Per pupil spending comparison\" data-type=\"interactive\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<p><script>!function(e,n,i,s){var d=\"InfogramEmbeds\";var o=e.getElementsByTagName(n)[0];if(window[d]&&window[d].initialized)window[d].process&&window[d].process();else if(!e.getElementById(i)){var r=e.createElement(n);r.async=1,r.id=i,r.src=s,o.parentNode.insertBefore(r,o)}}(document,\"script\",\"infogram-async\",\"https:\/\/e.infogram.com\/js\/dist\/embed-loader-min.js\");<\/script>\n\t        <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Roza said test scores are a \u201ctruth bomb\u201d because the test is rigorous and allows the state-by-state comparisons to reveal \u201cwhat\u2019s really going on.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There is one area where Michigan remains a leader: chronic absenteeism. Close to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bridgemi.com\/talent-education\/michigan-1-3-students-miss-18-days-school-year-data-shows\">30%<\/a> of the state\u2019s 1.3 million public school students are missing 10% (18 days) or more in a school year, the 9th highest rate out of 45 states with comparable statistics. The weighted average of those states is 25%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cA third of your kids (in Michigan) don\u2019t have a chance to be successful,\u201d Roza said. It\u2019s hard to learn, she said, \u201cif you\u2019re not there.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For sure, there are metrics by which Michigan schools are improving. Graduation rates are <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bridgemi.com\/talent-education\/michigan-high-school-graduation-rates-reach-new-high\">at an all-time high<\/a>, as are the number of students completing technical career education while in high school and students taking and successfully completing advancement placement classes.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Still, the overall trend in Michigan classrooms is clear, according to the vast majority of experts who spoke to Bridge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe are failing children as policymakers,\u201d acknowledged State School Board President Pamela Pugh at a recent House Oversight Committee hearing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><b>A lost generation<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Educators know those low test scores could shadow Michigan for a generation.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Studies show third-graders who struggle to read <a href=\"https:\/\/www.chapinhall.org\/research\/third-grade-reading-level-predictive-of-later-life-outcomes\/\">have lower academic achievement in high school<\/a>, which can lead to fewer attending college. That matters because incomes generally rise with education. In Michigan, the typical high school graduate earns <a href=\"https:\/\/mischooldata.org\/median-annual-wages-by-education-attainment\/\">$31,900 a year five years after graduation<\/a>; those with a postsecondary certificate or associate\u2019s degree bring home about $54,000; those with a bachelor\u2019s degree, $65,000.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe are at a crisis point with baby boomers retiring,\u201d said&nbsp;<span style=\"font-size:14pt; font-variant-ligatures:normal; font-variant-alternates:normal; font-variant-numeric:normal; font-variant-east-asian:normal; font-variant-position:normal; white-space:pre-wrap\"><span style=\"font-family:Arial, sans-serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><span style=\"font-weight:400\"><span style=\"font-style:normal\"><span style=\"text-decoration:none\">Mike Jandernoa, a west Michigan business leader who is heavily involved in education reform.&nbsp;<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>&nbsp;\u201cWe need a talented workforce, not just a workforce that turns over in a week or two.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIf they can\u2019t read and can\u2019t do basic math, they\u2019re going to be really limited\u201d in their job opportunities, he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" data-attachment-id=\"64498\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/talent-education\/michigan-spent-big-fix-schools-result-worse-scores-and-plenty-blame\/attachment\/1-28-25_naep-scores_12_1-2\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/1-28-25_NAEP-scores_12_1-1.jpg?fit=1300%2C867&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1300,867\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"1-28-25_NAEP scores_12_1\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/1-28-25_NAEP-scores_12_1-1.jpg?fit=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/1-28-25_NAEP-scores_12_1-1.jpg?fit=1024%2C683&amp;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/1-28-25_NAEP-scores_12_1-1.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Bookshelves in a classroom. \" class=\"wp-image-64498\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/1-28-25_NAEP-scores_12_1-1.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/1-28-25_NAEP-scores_12_1-1.jpg?resize=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/1-28-25_NAEP-scores_12_1-1.jpg?resize=768%2C512&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/1-28-25_NAEP-scores_12_1-1.jpg?resize=1200%2C800&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/1-28-25_NAEP-scores_12_1-1.jpg?resize=780%2C520&amp;ssl=1 780w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/1-28-25_NAEP-scores_12_1-1.jpg?resize=400%2C267&amp;ssl=1 400w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/1-28-25_NAEP-scores_12_1-1.jpg?w=1300&amp;ssl=1 1300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/1-28-25_NAEP-scores_12_1-1-1024x683.jpg?w=370&amp;ssl=1 370w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Studies show that reading scores are an indicator of future success in school. In Holt schools, students are encouraged to use the library. (Annie Barker for Bridge Michigan)<br><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Karen McPhee, education policy adviser to former Gov. Rick Snyder, agreed. \u201cWe are weaker as a state if we fail to educate our population,\u201d she said. \u201cIn the end, we are only as strong as our schools.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThis should be a moment of reckoning,\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><b>Many plans, little resolve<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Michigan has a long history of attempts to boost school learning. It has a shorter history of sticking with reforms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There were<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bridgemi.com\/talent-education\/we-read-12-reports-fixing-michigan-schools-here-are-4-things-we-learned\"> 11 reports on education reform<\/a> published by Michigan think tanks and advocacy groups just in the four years from 2014 and 2018. Legislators voted to grade Michigan schools on an A-to-F scale, then the system was dropped. Third-graders were supposed to read at grade level to advance to fourth grade for a few years, before the state punted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There were seven different accountability systems for Michigan schools in the 10 years between 2010 and 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" data-attachment-id=\"64500\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/talent-education\/michigan-spent-big-fix-schools-result-worse-scores-and-plenty-blame\/attachment\/flint-sbev-3-3\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/flint-sbev-3-1.jpg?fit=1300%2C867&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1300,867\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"flint sbev 3\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/flint-sbev-3-1.jpg?fit=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/flint-sbev-3-1.jpg?fit=1024%2C683&amp;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/flint-sbev-3-1.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Children writing on a chalkboard. \" class=\"wp-image-64500\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/flint-sbev-3-1.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/flint-sbev-3-1.jpg?resize=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/flint-sbev-3-1.jpg?resize=768%2C512&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/flint-sbev-3-1.jpg?resize=1200%2C800&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/flint-sbev-3-1.jpg?resize=780%2C520&amp;ssl=1 780w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/flint-sbev-3-1.jpg?resize=400%2C267&amp;ssl=1 400w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/flint-sbev-3-1.jpg?w=1300&amp;ssl=1 1300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/flint-sbev-3-1-1024x683.jpg?w=370&amp;ssl=1 370w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">In Flint, students participate in an after-school program designed to improve reading comprehension and test scores. (Michael Indriolo for Bridge Michigan)<br><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cEvery year, schools were getting told, \u2018Here\u2019s (the new way) you\u2019re going to be held accountable,\u201d recalled Keesler, who was in charge of accountability with the Michigan Department of Education at the time. \u201cAnd these were high-stakes accountability, there was a threat of (school) closure, takeover, principals got fired.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Scott Menzel was superintendent of Washtenaw Intermediate School District for much of that decade and recalls the frustration of constantly changing reforms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIf you\u2019re a teacher, there\u2019s going to be a new flavor of the month and you can wait it out,\u201d said Menzel, now superintendent of Scottsdale Unified School District in Arizona. \u201cYou know that within a certain amount of time, things are going to replace it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cYou can throw spaghetti at a wall, and the more things you try, the less chance anything is going to move the needle,\u201d Menzel said. \u201cMississippi focused on a single goal \u2014 to make sure their children were reading at grade level. What is the single goal in Michigan?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That\u2019s certainly not clear from the \u201cTop 10 in 10\u201d report of 2015.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That blueprint for education reform had seven goals, 44 strategies and 105 sub-strategies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignright is-layout-grid wp-container-core-group-is-layout-9649a0d9 wp-block-group-is-layout-grid\">\n<div class=\"dr-paragraph right-aligned-blockquote-xl dr-paragraph--right-aligned-blockquote-xl\">\n<div class=\"region region--float-right region--float-right-xl dr-paragraph right-aligned-blockquote-xl dr-paragraph--right-aligned-blockquote-xl\">\n<div class=\"region__content\">\n<div class=\"infogram-embed\" data-id=\"eaacdb76-ccc5-4d3a-92b8-a809c7a20429\" data-title=\"Reading and Math, Ms. v Mi.\" data-type=\"interactive\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<p><script>!function(e,n,i,s){var d=\"InfogramEmbeds\";var o=e.getElementsByTagName(n)[0];if(window[d]&&window[d].initialized)window[d].process&&window[d].process();else if(!e.getElementById(i)){var r=e.createElement(n);r.async=1,r.id=i,r.src=s,o.parentNode.insertBefore(r,o)}}(document,\"script\",\"infogram-async\",\"https:\/\/e.infogram.com\/js\/dist\/embed-loader-min.js\");<\/script>\n\t        <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>None are as straight-forward as Mississippi\u2019s law that sets a standard that \u201cevery student completing the third grade is able to read at or above grade level.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, goal No. 2 in Michigan\u2019s reform blueprint reads: \u201cImplement, with strong district and building leadership, high-quality instruction in every classroom through a highly coherent, child-centered instructional model where students meet their self-determined academic and personal goals to their highest potential.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Keesler, who worked on the creation of the document, acknowledged the goals were \u201cprobably not attainable,\u201d and that there needed to be fewer and more specific goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Even John Austin, president of the State Board of Education at the time the \u201cTop 10 in 10\u201d report was approved, told Bridge that the report \u201cwas never meaningful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThere was never any plan to implement and no money from the Legislature,\u201d Austin said. \u201cIt was just wheels turning.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Austin was another long-time education leader who told Bridge that he is \u201cnot surprised\u201d Michigan\u2019s schools have continued their slide despite more money and staff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s tragic,\u201d he said. \u201cWe haven\u2019t had any real leadership that cares about (how to) do things better.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><b>Local control run amok<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>To others, the blame lies with Michigan\u2019s disjointed control over schools.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Legislature has power of policy and holds the purse strings; the Michigan Department of Education is charged with applying laws and the elected State Board of Education supervises education and appoints a state superintendent. The governor has no direct role in overseeing education, with the state school superintendent appointed by the State Board. Only six other states have that system of governance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cBecause of that, you have a lot of warring going on and you have this piecemeal approach,\u201d McPhee said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Bridge requested an interview with Whitmer in May and gave her office several weeks of availability. Instead, spokesperson Stacey LaRouche sent a statement that read in part: \u201cRepublicans have had decades of control over state education policy and funding, and while we\u2019ve been working to turn the ship around over the last six years, we need to focus education policies to make sure that every kid in Michigan can read.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>LaRouche did not respond to follow-up questions, including asking the governor what additional reforms would increase learning in Michigan classrooms.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Stacey-LaRouche-statement-.pdf\"><b>Read LaRouche\u2019s full statement here<\/b><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Even if state leaders did come to a consensus, Michigan school districts have more autonomy than in most states, according to education experts. While educators agree that reading skills in early grades is key to academic success, the state\u2019s traditional and charter schools use 444 different curricula to teach English<b>.&nbsp;<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><b>School funding, staff rise as enrollment falls<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe have a local control system run amok in the state,\u201d State Superintendent Michael Rice told a House committee recently. \u201cWe\u2019re proud of our local control system until it doesn\u2019t produce the results that we wanted to produce.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Added McPhee, \u201cIn essence, we have 800 systems (the approximate number of charter schools and traditional districts) of education in this state, and everyone operates in a fair amount of isolation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThere are 130 Secretary of State offices in the state,\u201d McPhee continued. \u201cCan you imagine if they all issued driver\u2019s licenses in a different way and designed their own license plates? We\u2019d never accept it, but we do with our schools.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" data-attachment-id=\"64501\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/talent-education\/michigan-spent-big-fix-schools-result-worse-scores-and-plenty-blame\/attachment\/1-28-25_naep-scores_33-2\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/1-28-25_NAEP-scores_33-1.jpg?fit=1300%2C867&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1300,867\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"1-28-25_NAEP scores_33\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/1-28-25_NAEP-scores_33-1.jpg?fit=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/1-28-25_NAEP-scores_33-1.jpg?fit=1024%2C683&amp;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/1-28-25_NAEP-scores_33-1.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"A teacher walks in a hallway. Lockers are on the side of the hallway. \" class=\"wp-image-64501\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/1-28-25_NAEP-scores_33-1.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/1-28-25_NAEP-scores_33-1.jpg?resize=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/1-28-25_NAEP-scores_33-1.jpg?resize=768%2C512&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/1-28-25_NAEP-scores_33-1.jpg?resize=1200%2C800&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/1-28-25_NAEP-scores_33-1.jpg?resize=780%2C520&amp;ssl=1 780w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/1-28-25_NAEP-scores_33-1.jpg?resize=400%2C267&amp;ssl=1 400w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/1-28-25_NAEP-scores_33-1.jpg?w=1300&amp;ssl=1 1300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/1-28-25_NAEP-scores_33-1-1024x683.jpg?w=370&amp;ssl=1 370w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A teacher walks in a hallway at Holt Public Schools. Educators say Michigan has suffered because leaders have not rallied around a single reform to improve reading and schools. (Annie Barker for Bridge Michigan)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><b>\u2018Too many cooks\u2019<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Even now, when there is general agreement that action must be taken to improve Michigan schools, there is little common ground in the Legislature or among candidates for governor.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Republican-controlled House\u2019s budget proposal includes removing $42 million for dedicated literacy coach funding, but would incentivize schools to have a third-grade retention program with at least one literacy coach and funds for lowering class sizes. The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bridgemi.com\/michigan-government\/senate-dems-want-1b-more-michigan-schools-call-cuts-dangerous\">Democrat-controlled Senate proposal <\/a>includes money to lower class sizes in some districts and increase teacher pay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignright has-light-gray-background-color has-background\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Michigan education crisis<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Despite more money, more staffing and years of attempted reforms, Michigan schools are sliding farther behind other states in key educational outcomes. One Michigan education leader called it a \u201cmoment of reckoning,\u201d and many candidates who have announced plans to run for governor in 2026 are making education reform a key to their campaigns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Throughout 2025, Bridge Michigan will chronicle how we reached this crisis point, the impact of our learning slide, and what we can learn from other states.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Gubernatorial candidates are pitching accountability measures for schools, supports for teachers and extra help for students in the form of tutoring and reading scholarships. Some candidates praise the new \u201cscience of reading\u201d laws but acknowledge it will take time and cohesion to see the effects of implementation.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Many of the education leaders who spoke to Bridge have scars from decades of failed reform efforts, where time and cohesion were in short supply. Most pointed to a lack of policy consistency over different governors and legislatures as one of the reasons Michigan schools have floundered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019ve got to survive through multiple administrations (and) a generation of school leaders and teachers, and not get frustrated when we don\u2019t see everything we want (immediately),\u201d McPhee said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What Michigan lacks is \u201ca clear one person in charge of education who actually also has levers of control over money, who could actually do anything,\u201d&nbsp; said McCann, of K-12 Alliance of Michigan. There are \u201ca&nbsp; lot of cooks in the kitchen without necessarily having seen what the previous cooks baked up.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019re a kind of silver bullet state,\u201d Keesler said, with politicians looking for a quick \u2014 and fast \u2014 answer to a complicated problem. \u201cWe expect this instant gratification with this huge investment of cash,\u201d Keesler said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But with decades of sliding academic performance, patience is wearing thin.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThis crisis is causing people to think differently,\u201d Keesler said. \u201cBut now we have to deliver.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Ten years ago, Michigan vowed to become a Top 10 state for education. Since then, it\u2019s outspent many other states and seen diminishing returns amid a revolving door of reforms.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1804,"featured_media":63124,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"newspack_ads_suppress_ads":true,"newspack_popups_has_disabled_popups":false,"newspack_sponsor_sponsorship_scope":"","newspack_sponsor_native_byline_display":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_native_category_display":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_underwriter_style":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_underwriter_placement":"inherit","inline_featured_image":false,"apple_news_api_created_at":"2025-09-23T13:06:27Z","apple_news_api_id":"1c7c5ce3-1ba0-4cfe-ae1c-769e2cc23f8b","apple_news_api_modified_at":"2026-02-23T02:39:35Z","apple_news_api_revision":"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAADQ==","apple_news_api_share_url":"https:\/\/apple.news\/AHHxc4xugTP6uHHaeLMI_iw","apple_news_cover_media_provider":"image","apple_news_coverimage":0,"apple_news_coverimage_caption":"","apple_news_cover_video_id":0,"apple_news_cover_video_url":"","apple_news_cover_embedwebvideo_url":"","apple_news_is_hidden":"","apple_news_is_paid":"","apple_news_is_preview":"","apple_news_is_sponsored":"","apple_news_maturity_rating":"","apple_news_metadata":"\"\"","apple_news_pullquote":"","apple_news_pullquote_position":"","apple_news_slug":"","apple_news_sections":[],"apple_news_suppress_video_url":false,"apple_news_use_image_component":false,"_newspack_byline_active":false,"_newspack_byline":"","newspack_featured_image_position":"","newspack_post_subtitle":"","newspack_article_summary_title":"Overview:","newspack_article_summary":"","newspack_hide_updated_date":false,"newspack_show_updated_date":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"_wpas_customize_per_network":false},"categories":[2454],"tags":[1510,59],"newspack_spnsrs_tax":[],"coauthors":[2459,2475,2482],"class_list":["post-63048","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-talent-education","tag-michigan-k-12-schools","tag-michigans-spending","entry"],"apple_news_notices":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.0 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Michigan spent big to fix schools. The result: Worse scores and plenty of blame - Bridge Michigan<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/talent-education\/michigan-spent-big-fix-schools-result-worse-scores-and-plenty-blame\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Michigan spent big to fix schools. The result: Worse scores and plenty of blame - Bridge Michigan\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Ten years ago, Michigan vowed to become a Top 10 state for education. Since then, it\u2019s outspent many other states and seen diminishing returns amid a revolving door of reforms.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/talent-education\/michigan-spent-big-fix-schools-result-worse-scores-and-plenty-blame\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Bridge Michigan\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/BridgeMichigan\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-07-21T16:00:00+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-02-23T02:39:38+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/1-Main-art-1.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1200\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"800\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Ron French, Isabel Lohman, Mike Wilkinson\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@bridgemichigan\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@bridgemichigan\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Ron French, Isabel Lohman, Mike Wilkinson\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"12 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/talent-education\/michigan-spent-big-fix-schools-result-worse-scores-and-plenty-blame\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/talent-education\/michigan-spent-big-fix-schools-result-worse-scores-and-plenty-blame\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Ron French\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/#\/schema\/person\/b25b21e38c04f81380abb854d94705ac\"},\"headline\":\"Michigan spent big to fix schools. 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Use these tools to search how districts statewide fared.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Talent &amp; Education&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Talent &amp; Education","link":"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/category\/talent-education\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"An empty classroom.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/1-28-25_NAEP-scores_27.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/1-28-25_NAEP-scores_27.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/1-28-25_NAEP-scores_27.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/1-28-25_NAEP-scores_27.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/1-28-25_NAEP-scores_27.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":62778,"url":"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/talent-education\/michigan-democrats-republicans-swap-blame-schools-after-bridge-report\/","url_meta":{"origin":63048,"position":1},"title":"Michigan Democrats, Republicans swap blame on schools after Bridge report","author":"Isabel Lohman","date":"July 23, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Michigan\u2019s reading scores have dropped to crisis levels in the past 10 years. Republicans blame Democrats for repealing reforms; Democrats say their new strategies need time to work.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Talent &amp; Education&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Talent &amp; Education","link":"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/category\/talent-education\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"The senate chamber in active session inside the Michigan State Capitol in Lansing, Mich. on Tuesday, June 10, 2025.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/StateCapitol_06092025_JFB_092-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/StateCapitol_06092025_JFB_092-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/StateCapitol_06092025_JFB_092-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/StateCapitol_06092025_JFB_092-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/StateCapitol_06092025_JFB_092-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":66240,"url":"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/events\/bridge-lunch-break-to-discuss-the-state-of-education-in-michigan\/","url_meta":{"origin":63048,"position":2},"title":"Bridge Lunch Break to discuss the state of education in Michigan","author":"Kathy Kieliszewski","date":"September 8, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"The September 24 event will feature Bridge reporters talking with education experts about what can be done to improve Michigan schools.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Events&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Events","link":"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/category\/events\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Lunch Break graphic","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/September-Lunch-Break-resized.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/September-Lunch-Break-resized.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/September-Lunch-Break-resized.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/September-Lunch-Break-resized.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/September-Lunch-Break-resized.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":66842,"url":"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/talent-education\/msu-report-urges-more-money-improved-efficiencies-for-michigan-schools\/","url_meta":{"origin":63048,"position":3},"title":"MSU study urges more money, improved efficiencies for Michigan schools","author":"Ron French","date":"September 22, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"While Michigan school funding has gone up, the dollars making it to classrooms has remained flat because of growing pension costs.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Talent &amp; Education&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Talent &amp; Education","link":"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/category\/talent-education\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/school-classroom.jpg?fit=1200%2C642&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/school-classroom.jpg?fit=1200%2C642&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/school-classroom.jpg?fit=1200%2C642&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/school-classroom.jpg?fit=1200%2C642&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/school-classroom.jpg?fit=1200%2C642&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":62776,"url":"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/talent-education\/report-give-governor-more-control-improve-michigan-schools-test-scores\/","url_meta":{"origin":63048,"position":4},"title":"Report: Give governor more control to improve Michigan schools, test scores","author":"Ron French","date":"July 23, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"The state paid $500,000 for a report on how to improve Michigan schools. Not all are thrilled with the recommendations.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Talent &amp; Education&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Talent &amp; Education","link":"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/category\/talent-education\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Teacher in front of the class.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/school-teacher.jpg?fit=1200%2C642&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/school-teacher.jpg?fit=1200%2C642&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/school-teacher.jpg?fit=1200%2C642&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/school-teacher.jpg?fit=1200%2C642&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/school-teacher.jpg?fit=1200%2C642&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":66166,"url":"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/talent-education\/fact-check-michigan-school-funding-at-historic-highs-is-that-enough\/","url_meta":{"origin":63048,"position":5},"title":"Fact check: Michigan school funding at historic highs. Is that enough?","author":"Mike Wilkinson","date":"September 8, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Michigan boosted school funding in the past ten years at a higher rate than most states. Critics say schools are still underfunded by $4.5 billion. There\u2019s data to support both arguments.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Talent &amp; Education&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Talent &amp; Education","link":"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/category\/talent-education\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Darlene Calvert teaches an English Language Arts class during the after-school program at the Sylvester Broome Empowerment Village on Wednesday, April 24, 2024.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/04242-24_flintkids_MI.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/04242-24_flintkids_MI.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/04242-24_flintkids_MI.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/04242-24_flintkids_MI.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/04242-24_flintkids_MI.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/63048","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1804"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=63048"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/63048\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":66943,"href":"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/63048\/revisions\/66943"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/63124"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=63048"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=63048"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=63048"},{"taxonomy":"newspack_spnsrs_tax","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/newspack_spnsrs_tax?post=63048"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=63048"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}