The legislators said the plan addresses critical gaps in Michigan's education system, ensuring students leave school ready for higher education and lifelong careers with the skills they need.
"Far too many of our students are walking across the graduation stage without the skills they need to thrive in college or the workforce," said Greene, R- Richmond, in a news release. "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."
The first piece of the plan reverses the cuts to school safety and mental health resources made in this year's state budget. The budget bill, sponsored by DeBoer, restores $305 million in school safety and mental health funding to replace the cuts in the budget, prevent looming layoffs and allow districts to keep updating older buildings with modern safety technology.
"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, R- Holland. "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."
Another measure sponsored by Greene focuses on modernizing Michigan's Merit Curriculum, giving students more flexibility to pursue paths that align with their talents.
"This is about giving students a buffet of options, so they can choose the classes that match their goals," Greene said. "Whether they want to pursue higher education or dive into a skilled trade, we're making sure they have the tools they need to succeed. Our plan would allow new courses like coding, construction math, and accounting, while still ensuring strong foundations in core subjects like science and language arts."
The House Republican plan aims to further help students, parents, and teachers by:
—Expanding dual enrollment: By expanding dual enrollment to include trade schools, students can get a head start on both college and career training, helping parents save money in the process.
—Reducing test anxiety: The plan includes a pilot program to explore alternatives to the M-STEP, easing the pressure and giving teachers the information they need to help students succeed without as much time spent on test prep.
—Teacher-student ratios: A new report will identify best practices for teacher-student ratios, providing schools with a model to follow and parents with transparency on how their local schools compare.
—Curriculum recommendations: The plan calls for the Michigan Department of Education to review and recommend research-backed curriculums, so teachers have reliable resources and are not left guessing which materials work.
—Tools for teachers: The proposal ensures that teacher preparation programs focus on evidence-based teaching methods, particularly in reading and math, and brings in subject experts to develop top-tier curriculums.
—Waiving state fees for teachers: To support educators and help address Michigan's teacher shortage, the plan eliminates fees for teaching certificate applications, renewals, and endorsements, making it easier for teachers to stay in the profession.
—Subject area endorsements: By streamlining the process for teachers to obtain additional subject area endorsements, the plan helps schools fill vacancies while allowing teachers to teach subjects they are qualified in without unnecessary hurdles.
—More resources for classrooms: The plan allows for more consolidation of administrative services across districts to redirect more resources toward shrinking class sizes and supporting teachers, instead of inflating bureaucratic costs.
"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," Greene said. "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."
(c)2024 Voice News, New Baltimore, Mich. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
