Statement by the statewide, non-partisan coalition, Michigan Partnership for Equity and Opportunity, on planned changes to U.S. Department of Education
Since his election, President Donald Trump has expressed his desire to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education. The new U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon in her first hours in the role this week sent an email to staff titled “Our Department’s Final Mission.” In that memo she said her vision is “aligned with the President’s: to send education back to the states.” The U.S. Department of Education plays impactful roles in the public education of 1.4 million Michigan students of all backgrounds in traditional public and charter schools. The following is a statement by the Michigan Partnership for [...]
FY 2025 School Aid Budget Builds Upon Historic School Funding Progress for Students who are Underserved
State leaders propose historic funding again in FY 25 for English Learners, while supporting greater investment for students from low-income backgrounds DETROIT (June 27, 2024) – Amid a tight budget cycle, The Michigan Partnership for Equity and Opportunity (MPEO) coalition applauded investments in the proposed FY 2025 School Aid budget that built upon historic school funding wins for students who are the most underserved. At the same time, they called on state leaders to put in place strong new systems of fiscal transparency and accountability for those investments. As overall revenue declined, legislators supported historic increases again this year for English Learners, [...]
Statement by the Michigan Partnership for Equity and Opportunity on the budget recommendations from the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on PreK-12
This is a statement on behalf of the Michigan Partnership for Equity and Opportunity on the budget recommendations from the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on PreK-12: The Michigan Partnership for Equity and Opportunity (MPEO) coalition today applauded Sen. Darrin Camilleri and members of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on PreK-12 for their continued leadership in championing systemic school funding change while investing more for students with the greatest needs. “While there is far more to do to ensure Michigan’s students with the greatest needs have the resources they need to be successful – alongside a new system of fiscal transparency and [...]
Celebrate Black History Month!
Black History Month is coming to a close, but that does not mean we should stop recognizing the contributions that African Americans have made and continue to make in U.S. history. EdTrust-Midwest is grateful for the strong partnership we have built with our Michigan Partnership for Equity and Opportunity (MPEO) coalition, as we continue efforts to identify ways to close gaps in opportunity and achievement that disproportionately impact students who are the most underserved, with a particular focus on Black and Latino/a students and students from low-income backgrounds. Monique Marks, president & CEO at Franklin Wright Settlements and MPEO member, [...]
Celebrate Black History Month!
Annually, Black History Month is observed from Feb. 1 to Mar. 1 as a celebration honoring the contributions that African Americans have made and recognizing their central role in U.S. history. The tradition began in the Jim Crow era and was officially recognized in 1976 as part of the nation’s bicentennial celebrations. In partnership with EdTrust-Midwest, the Michigan Partnership for Equity and Opportunity (MPEO) works to close gaps in opportunity and achievement that disproportionately impact students who are the most underserved, with a particular focus on Black and Latino/a students and students from low-income backgrounds. Deidre Bounds, president at Ignite Social [...]
Statewide Equity Coalition Lauds Equity-Centered School Funding Recommendations from the Growing Michigan Together Council
The Michigan Partnership for Equity and Opportunity – a diverse, bipartisan, statewide coalition of leaders centered on educational equity – today praised Gov. Whitmer’s Growing Michigan Together Council for including several key transformational school funding recommendations in its final report. “State leaders made a historic commitment in June to Michigan’s students, especially those who are most underserved, when they codified in state law a new Opportunity Index – a mechanism that will drive much greater state investment in students who qualify for at-risk funding based on a school district’s concentration of poverty, regardless of region,” said Alice Thompson, one [...]
It’s time for Michigan to invest in its most vulnerable children
From the rural reaches of northern Michigan to the urban centers of our largest cities and the surrounding suburban and exurban communities, every one of Michigan’s 1.4. million public school students deserve the opportunity to flourish in school and life. Yet, that’s tragically not the case, especially for students who are most underserved. The state’s recently released M-STEP results are just one of the many indicators that reinforce why we need to urgently transform our education system. Consider that the percentage of students scoring proficient on key subjects is still below pre-pandemic levels. For example, Michigan scores dropped in 2023 in [...]
Hispanic Heritage Month Spotlight: Jose Luis Orozco, Jr., Voces
Editor's note: Annually, September 15 – October 15 serves as Hispanic Heritage Month, providing a time to pay tribute to the many contributions, cultures and histories of American Latinos who have influenced and enriched our nation. Throughout the month we are spotlighting members from the Michigan Partnership for Equity and Opportunity – a diverse statewide coalition of leaders and organizations ranging from civil rights, business, civic, parent, and other sectors – and the incredible work they do for students and education equity. Originally from San Perlita, Texas, a small border town on the Texas-Mexico border, Jose Luis Orozco, Jr. is a licensed professional counselor who advocates for the Latino [...]
Opportunity for All: A Celebration of a Historic Win and Next Steps for Fair Funding for All
More than 60 education equity advocates – including local elected leaders, state officials, educators, civil rights, civic and business leaders, supporters and partners – joined together recently to celebrate a historic school funding win for Michigan’s students, especially the most underserved. The event, which took place at Fellowship Chapel in Detroit, was a celebration of a systemic change to invest dramatically more in students from low-income backgrounds – and discuss next steps to create a truly fair school funding system based on what leading states and research say is needed to close opportunity gaps for students with the greatest [...]
Hispanic Heritage Month Spotlight: Adnoris Torres, Healthy Beginnings
Editor's note: Annually, September 15 – October 15 serves as Hispanic Heritage Month, providing a time to pay tribute to the many contributions, cultures and histories of American Latinos who have influenced and enriched our nation. Throughout the month we are spotlighting members from the Michigan Partnership for Equity and Opportunity – a diverse statewide coalition of leaders and organizations ranging from civil rights, business, civic, parent, and other sectors – and the incredible work they do for students and education equity. At the age of nine, Adnoris “Bo” Torres migrated from Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, to Battle Creek, Michigan, with his [...]