We some dramatic changes in the schoolhouse

Our schools have failed our children for far too long.

Democrats are now in charge at all the levers of power in Lansing. For the rst time in Michigan’s history the chairs of the legislative committees on education are all teachers by professional background. ey have the opportunity to invest and reform public education in ways that will pay dividends for all. But will they?

e fact is money, accountability and reform are required ingredients to improve public education if we are serious about preparing more of our students for their future and not our past.

As two individuals who held the state superintendent position, we implore our state leaders to use their power to reinvent public education rather than thinking their job is done by only spending more money on it.

Here is a small sample of actions Lansing leaders can take to truly invest in change that will lead to progress bene ting our students and all who live in Michigan:

 First and foremost, listen to parents and teachers. Listen to teachers on how to switch the focus from power, control and ideology to teaching, learning and children. Engage parents in meaningful ways to support their children to obtain a high quality education.

 Invest in universal Pre-K for all 4-year-olds. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer called for universal Pre-K in her 2023 State of the State Address. Research is clear. A child’s brain develops more from birth to age 5 than any other time in life. is early brain development has a lasting impact on a child’s ability to learn and succeed in school and life.

 Eliminate senior year. We need to radically reshape the high school experience. We propose that at the end of the junior year, students would be required to develop an action plan on how they will spend their senior year of high school which could be renamed “gap year.” e gap year could include such things as skill building, volunteering, attending a uni- versity, community college or trade school, engaging in apprenticeships, working, traveling, improving skills needed to advance a career and additional educational attainment. e options are numerous. Restructuring senior year is past its due date.

At the conclusion of the gap year, students would be required to submit a multi-page, project outlining their learning that occurred during the year and a summary of their goals.

Clearly there are implementation details to address, such as extracurricular activities, senior prom, and the redirection of funds saved to more impactful areas.

 Make the RESA/ISD superintendents accountable to the state superintendent of schools. ese independent regional educational service agencies oat between local districts and the state and are accountable to neither. ey should be an extension of the state department of education to assure the policies of the governor, Legislature and state board of education are carried out assuring greater accountability for student success.

 Use technology and arti cial intelligence to accelerate learning. While education remediation and tutoring are helpful strategies, teachers also need to engage in education acceleration to allow our students to take a great leap forward. e targeted use of AI and other technology has the potential to launch our students into the future.

 Eliminate snow days. is past month, schools across the state closed for “snow days.” Why? Teaching and learning need not be conned to the four walls of a school building. During COVID, investments were made to assure equitable hardware and internet connections were available. We need more days of instruction not less. Snow days are a relic of the past and should be eliminated.

 Reduce local control. When it comes to educator training and professional learning, local school districts have total discretionary choice on what is provided and the quality provided to their sta unless legislatively required. Delegate authority to the state superintendent to require speci c training related to state initiatives, such as literacy teaching and learning, and provide resources to the Michigan Department of Education to develop the training and disseminate it to districts throughout the state. Educators need the same high quality professional learning.

We need to shake up the schoolhouse. Democrats, you are in charge. You have the opportunity to catapult public education forward.

Michigan needs courageous action or another generation of children will be squandered. Please proceed as if our collective future is dependent on your action, because it is.