Kevin Lavery

Many people were outraged recently when the Texas Board of Education voted to remove figures such as Hillary Clinton and Helen Keller from its history books. Michigan may be on a similar course. 

Wednesday marks the fall Count Day in Michigan schools.  It’s a sort of census that helps the state determine how much per pupil funding it gives to local districts.  

WKAR Education Reporter Kevin Lavery talks with one local school leader about the importance of Count Day.  Dr. Nicole Beard is the principal at Riddle Elementary in Lansing.

Waverly Community Schools in Delta Township is re-focusing on early elementary literacy in a bid to improve its state assessment scores. In 2015, 69 percent of Waverly third graders tested as "reading-proficient" on the M-STEP.  By 2018, that number had fallen to 37.7 percent.

The Catholic bishop of Lansing says the diocese will undergo an independent review of its sexual abuse investigation procedures. 

On this week's show: Michigan's Governors Race; Lawsuit alleging a 1992 sexual assault by Larry Nassar and cover-up; Political climate affecting international students at MSU; The Great American Read; "talking" sidewalks in Lansing; Archived interview with Dr. Lena Wen; the history of apples in America.

Whether it’s Asimov or Zusak, Tolstoy or Tolkein, Americans are voting for their all-time favorite book.  At 8 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 11, WKAR-TV presents “The Great American Read.”  Tonight’s episode is the first in a series of seven highlighting 100 best-loved books selected in a national survey. 

After an extensive renovation, a Lansing elementary school is re-opening with new facilities and a new focus. 

Michigan students are back in class today. While they’re busy adjusting to their new routine, hundreds of districts across the state are studying last year’s report card. The results of the 2018 Michigan Student Test of Educational Progress, or “M-STEP” are out.  WKAR education reporter Kevin Lavery talks with Morning Edition host Emily Fox about the reading scores in mid-Michigan.

Governor Rick Snyder is urging lawmakers to approve his proposals for cleaning up the environment and improving Michigan’s water infrastructure.

Michigan students are returning to school.  This year, there's a huge push to ensure all third graders can read proficiently by the end of the year.  Those who can't will be held back in 2019.  This summer, elementary teachers  spent much of their time preparing for the new standard. 

WKAR Education Reporter Kevin Lavery speaks with WKAR Director of Education Robin Pizzo about the training Michigan teachers received over the summer.

On this edition of Current State: Michigan goes Back To School.  We'll study the Third Grade Reading Law, pay a visit to East Lansing's first charter school and meet the 2018 Michigan Teacher Of The Year.

On this edition of Current State: the gubernatorial race now until November, an interview with Rashida Tlaib, a new charter school in East Lansing, a gallery combining art and science in Detroit, the new milk processor in St  Johns and secrets of the sugar industry.

On August 7, voters will narrow a field of four Republicans and three Democrats vying to become Michigan’s 49th governor.   The Republicans in the race are Lieutenant Governor Brian Calley, Attorney General Bill Schuette, state Senator Patrick Colbeck and physician Jim Hines. 

On August 7, voters will narrow a field of four Republicans and three Democrats vying to become Michigan’s 49th governor.   The Democrats in the race are former Detroit health director Abdul El-Sayed, millionaire businessman Shri Thanedar and former Senate Democratic Leader Gretchen Whitmer. 

This story originally aired on WKAR in July 2017.

In the early 1960’s, Detroit had one of the highest standards of living in the country. 

But not everyone shared in the wealth. 

In 1967, Detroit’s undercurrent of unrest burst to the surface.  The riot that began on July 23 was the start of the worst civil disturbance in American history.