Education

Students across Michigan are heading back to school this month, and in some cities, students won’t be getting their water out of drinking fountains.

In August, Detroit Public Schools Community District announced that all drinking water in the district would be shut off indefinitely after elevated lead and copper levels were discovered. As of September 19, results found elevated levels in water fixtures at 57 of 86 schools tested so far. And in Flint, the public schools plan to continue using water bottles until January.

In December 2017, the Michigan State University Board of Trustees authorized the establishment of a $10 million fund to pay for counseling for survivors of abuse by Larry Nassar. The fund is called the Healing Assistance Fund and was set up early in 2018. It is separate from a May 2018 $500 million settlement agreement between MSU and Nassar survivors.

A Leelanau County school district has made an unusual move in response to incidents of gun violence in schools around the country.

The presidents of Michigan’s three major research universities talked about state funding and campus sexual assault, and touted their combined research contributions and economic clout at the Detroit Economic Club Wednesday.

Sexual assault survivors of convicted sports doctor Larry Nassar have until September 10, 2018 to file claims for compensation from Michigan State University's Nassar Victim Fund.

About 100 additional women have filed claims since MSU's settlement in May with the original group of 333 women.

In May, MSU set up a $500 million fund to compensate victims of Larry Nassar.

Tuesday is the first day of school for many children in Michigan.

In Flint, about two dozen motorcycles greeted students as they arrived for classes at Doyle Ryder elementary.  Some students covered their ears as riders throttled up their engines to a low roar.  

Charter school groups and state lawmakers are complaining about how the Michigan Department of Education plans to count students enrolling in cyber schools.

All Michigan schools must provide a minimum of 1,098 hours of instruction throughout the school year, under Section 101 of the State School Aid Act.

When it comes to standardized testing, Michigan’s students don’t seem to be performing any better than in recent years — or too much worse.

The Michigan Department of Education released the results of the 2018 M-STEP test Wednesday.

Detroit students won't be drinking out of water fountains when school starts next week.

The Detroit Public Schools Community District announced Wednesday that students will be using bottled water after tests showed elevated lead and copper levels at some of the schools.

Ferris State University teachers are back in class today after a Mecosta County Judge ordered a temporary end to their strike.

But the strike could be back on if the Judge decides not to grant the University a permanent injunction at a hearing Wednesday.

State Education officials are touting programs to improve early childhood literacy.

The programs help state and local educators collaborate to bring more children’s reading up to grade level by the end of the third grade.

Michigan State University says it will find a new, permanent president by June of 20-19 – And now it has a committee in place to help find the right person for the job.

Michigan school districts are still racing to fill teaching positions before the new school year starts.

The Michigan Department of Education hosted a teacher hiring fair in Lansing last week.  Around 100 public school districts and charter schools attended, as did around 475 job-seekers, said Rebekah Emmerling, manager of the educator evaluation and professional growth unit at MDE.

A new program at Eastern Michigan University allows prospective students willing to commit to paying for their first two years of tuition to get their final two years paid for by the university.

A new University of Michigan study finds young people are supportive of more gun control and of guns.

The University of Michigan School of Public Health conducts a regular text message poll of young people, between the ages of 14 to 24 years old.

This week, Flint Community Schools will take an important step toward finding its next permanent superintendent.

An interim superintendent has overseen the district since Bilal Tawwab was let go this past spring. Former emergency manager Gregory Weatherspoon was hired in March to serve as interim superintendent.

A new University of Michigan study finds African-American boys are three times as likely as whites to be suspended or expelled from school before the fourth grade.

The study suggests a lack of alternatives to suspending or expulsion may be a reason.

Detroit education officials are working to address shortfalls in the school district's special education program after audits found it's failing to meet student needs.

The Detroit News reports that the Detroit Board of Education on Tuesday approved Superintendent Nikolai Vitti's plan for sweeping reforms to its special education department. Two audits identified that the district lacks an effective system for identifying and evaluating children who may be eligible for special education services.