Livingston Today

State Rep. Ann Bollin, R-Brighton Township, is supporting a new plan to help Michigan students succeed in school and beyond.

The plan aims to assist students, parents, and teachers through a cohesive policy strategy. It proposes making schools safer, offering new pathways to graduation and post-high school success, recruiting and retaining quality teachers, improving reading proficiency among students, and providing additional supports for high-quality education in Michigan.

Recent assessments revealed significant struggles among students with basic skills. Three out of five Michigan third graders are not proficient in reading and language arts, while seven out of ten sixth graders lack proficiency in math.

“Our students deserve an education that prepares them for real life, not just for standardized tests,” Bollin stated. “Right now, too many kids are slipping through the cracks, and that needs to change. This plan is a direct response to the concerns we’ve heard from parents and teachers, and it provides real solutions to the challenges they face every day.”

This announcement follows the governor’s signing of an education budget criticized for its party-line passage. The budget provided no increase in core student funding and cut 92% of funding for school safety and mental health programs.

The plan supported by Bollin seeks to restore over $300 million cut from school safety and mental health funding by Democrats. It aims to upgrade building security, maintain mental health programs, retain school resource officers and counselors—ultimately protecting students and educators while providing peace of mind for parents.

“Parents should never have to worry whether their child has access to a safe environment at school,” Bollin remarked. “The cuts made in this year’s budget put that at risk. We’re stepping in to fix this and make sure schools can keep guidance counselors and resource officers on staff. Our kids deserve nothing less.”

Additionally, the plan will provide new graduation pathways by enabling more enrollment in career and technical education courses that align with students' skills and interests post-graduation. The modernized Michigan Merit Curriculum under this proposal includes specialized courses such as construction math, accounting, computer science coding classes.

Further support includes:

- Ensuring teacher preparation programs focus on evidence-based teaching methods.

- Expanding dual enrollment opportunities including trade schools.

- Reducing test anxiety by piloting alternatives to M-STEP.

- Supporting balanced teacher-student ratios based on best practices.

- Recommending research-backed curricula reviewed by the Michigan Department of Education.

- Streamlining subject area endorsements for teachers.

- Consolidating administrative services across districts to allocate more resources towards classroom needs.

“Not every student’s path looks the same,” said Bollin. “This plan makes sure students have the flexibility to choose a path that works for them – whether it’s a career in skilled trades pursuing a college degree or jumping into a high-tech field. We’re preparing them for the real world; that’s the goal.”

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