State Rep. Kathy Schmaltz, R-Jackson, recently introduced legislation as part of a broader education reform plan aimed at helping Michigan students succeed in school and beyond.

The plan focuses on helping students, parents, and teachers through a wide-ranging, cohesive policy strategy. The plan would make schools safer, offer new pathways to graduation and post-high school success, recruit and retain good teachers, help students learn to read well, and provide other supports to deliver a high-quality education in Michigan.

Recent assessment results showed how severely students are struggling with the basics. Three out of five Michigan third graders aren’t proficient in reading and language arts, and seven out of 10 Michigan sixth graders aren’t proficient in math. Schmaltz said the Legislature needs to act now.

“Michigan schools are not where they need to be,” Schmaltz said. “Too many kids are falling behind in reading, math, and basic life skills, and the current system isn’t setting them up for success. We can’t keep doing the same thing and expecting different results. We are failing our kids.

“Our plan changes that — we’re restoring school safety funding, offering real-world courses that match students’ strengths, and giving teachers the tools they need to teach effectively. We’re putting the focus back on preparing students for life, not just for the next test.”

The announcement comes in the early weeks of the new school year and months after the governor signed a dismal education budget that passed along party lines. The budget provided no increase to core student funding and eliminated 92% of funding for school safety and mental health. It has received harsh criticism from education leaders, who have highlighted the program cuts and layoffs that will result. Schmaltz met with each of the superintendents in her district, and all were very concerned and worried about the cuts.

The plan Schmaltz is backing will restore the more than $300 million that was cut from school safety and mental health — providing schools necessary funds to continue upgrading building security, maintain mental health programs, and retain school resource officers and counselors. The reinstated funding would protect students and educators while giving parents peace of mind.

It will also provide new pathways to graduation and enable students to enroll in more career and technical education courses that will develop their skills and interests with an eye toward life after school. Under the plan’s modernized Michigan Merit Curriculum, high schoolers will build on a strong foundation in math, science, English, and social science, with new options for fulfilling some required credits with specialized courses, such as construction math, accounting, computer science, coding, and trade classes.

Schmaltz’s measure, House Bill 5932, will make sure future educators learn evidence-based teaching methods, particularly in reading and math, train them to recognize the characteristics of dyslexia, and equip them with instructional methods tailored to students with dyslexia, like the Orton-Gillingham Method.

“The inability to read well has lifelong consequences,” Schmaltz said. “Too many Michigan students are falling behind because they aren’t getting the help they need early on. My bill makes sure every teacher is prepared to teach reading using methods that are backed by science. It also ensures teachers know how to help students with dyslexia, so no child is left behind.”

The plan will further help students, parents, and teachers by:

• Expanding dual enrollment: Expanding dual enrollment to include trade schools will allow students to get a head start on both college and career training, helping parents save money in the process.
• Reducing test anxiety: A pilot program will explore alternatives to the M-STEP, spreading testing throughout the year to ease the pressure and give teachers the information they need to help students succeed without endless test prep.
• Supporting balanced 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.
• Recommending curriculum: The plan calls for the Michigan Department of Education to review and recommend research-backed curricula, so teachers will have reliable resources and are not left guessing which materials work.
• 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.
• Facilitating subject area endorsements: By streamlining the process for teachers to obtain additional subject area endorsements, the plan will help schools fill vacancies while allowing teachers to teach subjects they are qualified in without unnecessary hurdles.

Additional details about the education plan are available online at gophouse.org/pathways-to-success.

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