Education

Making the Grade in Michigan

Listen Tuesdays at 6:45 and 8:45 a.m. on 90.5 WKAR-FMAccording to the Kids Count report of April 2018, 56% of third graders in Michigan are not proficient in English Language Arts. At the same time, some new public school teachers in Michigan are leaving the classroom because they do not earn enough money for a decent living. Virtual and charter schools are on the rise in Michigan. And in some communities there are breakthroughs in raising better readers.Covering education in Michigan is complex, but WKAR is committed to reporting on the problems, searching for solutions, and holding leaders accountable.Listen for Making The Grade in Michigan with WKAR education reporter Kevin Lavery every Tuesday at 6:45 and 8:45 a.m. on 90.5 WKAR-FM's Morning Edition.

Kalamazoo Schools Chief Chosen To Lead MI Department of Education

WKAR Public Media | By Kevin Lavery

Published May 7, 2019 at 10:33 PM EDT

smiling man — Kalamazoo Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Michael Rice has been chosen as the next Michigan State Superintendent.

Michigan has a new state school superintendent.

On Tuesday, the State Board of Education selected Michael Rice to oversee Michigan’s nearly 600 school districts. Rice has served as superintendent of the Kalamazoo Public Schools since 2007.

Rice competed against Ann Arbor superintendent Jeanice Swift and Wayne County RESA superintendent Randy Liepa for the job.

“He’s got a stellar reputation in the state of Michigan,” says state board president Casandra Ulbrich. “He’s been in Kalamazoo for the last 12 years, but he also has a lot of out of state experience as well.”

Rice will lead a public school system which in recent years has seen severely declining performance on standardized tests. His appointment as state superintendent begins July 1.