Latest news with #MichaelF.Rice
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
State superintendent to retire in October
LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) — Dr. Michael F. Rice, the current state superintendent of public instruction, announced his retirement Friday. His retirement is effective Oct. 3. 'It has been an honor to serve Michigan's 1.4 million public school children over the last six school years,' said Rice. 'It's been a privilege to work with the State Board of Education and the state's talented teachers, students, parents, administrators, support staff, Governor Whitmer, state legislators, education organizations, broader community, and the dedicated staff of the Michigan Department of Education (MDE), small in number but mighty in battle, to improve education for our children.' The State Board of Education selected Rice for state superintendent in 2019, after which he led the reconstruction of Michigan's Top 10 Strategic Education Plan. During his tenure, the state reached the following goals outlined in that plan: Reached the highest four-year graduation rate in history, 82.4%, in 2024 Increased student participation and scores in secondary school programs such as dual enrollment and Advanced Placement beyond pre-pandemic levels Implemented universal free breakfast and lunch for all public school Increased the children's mental health and school safety budget from $31 million to more than $250 million Increased teacher preparation plan enrollment by 71% Pushed for the implementation of literacy/dyslexia legislation, which was passed into law in Fall 2024 Secured more funding for low-income, disabled, and rural students, as well as students learning English Saw the state preschool program tie for first place in quality nationwide Saw the percentage of adults age 25 to 65 with postsecondary education rise to 51.8% The state also raised its summative test results in 14 of 20 categories in spring 2023 and 13 of 20 categories in spring 2024 and implemented a diverse MDE Student Advisory Council. 'It has been an honor to serve alongside Dr. Michael Rice over the past six years,' said Dr. Pamela Pugh, president of the State Board of Education. 'During that time, I have witnessed his steadfast commitment to putting children first—even in moments of disagreement, his focus on what was best for students never wavered.' Rice provided some insight into what he'll be doing after retirement. 'Family members are getting older and, with a nod to Robert Frost, I have promises to keep to them,' said Dr. Rice. 'While I will be writing, consulting a bit, and mentoring in the coming year, I expect mostly to be reengaging more deeply with family. Beyond the year, though, I expect to return to working eye level with children, work that I have missed enormously these last six years and to which I look forward. To Frost again: 'And miles to go before I sleep.'' Rice started his career in public education in Washington, D.C. Public Schools, teaching high school French and coaching a speech and debate program. He spent 2 years as a superintendent in Kalamazoo and five as a superintendent in Clifton, NJ. He graduated from Yale University with a bachelor's in psychology with honors and got a master's and doctoral degree in public administration with honors from New York University. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
State Superintendent reacts to U.S. Department of Education cuts: 'Today's action is an outrage'
LANSING, Mich. (WLNS)– Michigan State Superintendent Dr. Michael F. Rice expresses his concern about the U.S. Department of Education's plans to cut nearly half its workforce. This comes after the Trump Administration announced on Tuesday that hundreds of employees had been put on leave or had accepted a buyout offer. plans to lay off an additional 1300 employees as a part of the effort to cut the organization's staff in half. Department of Education lays off nearly half of workforce The Michigan Department of Education released a statement by Dr. Michael F. Rice on regarding the recent cuts made by the Trump Administration. Today's action is an outrage, a likely prelude to programs, protections, and funding—and by extension children in Michigan and around the country—being adversely affected. Funding and support from the U.S. Department of Education primarily benefit children who have greater needs and thus require more funding to educate. These staffing cuts will ultimately harm those vulnerable children, including students with disabilities, poor children, children experiencing homelessness, and English learners, among others. The federal government already underfunds education, particularly for our students with disabilities.' State Superintendent Dr. Michael F. Rice Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CBS News
22-02-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Michigan four-year high school graduation rate in 2024 hits record high, state says
Michigan's four-year graduation rate for 2024 is the highest the state has seen since 2008, according to the Department of Education. State data released Friday shows 82.8% of all students — equivalent to 95,334 — graduated within the standard four-year rate. That's slightly higher than the reported 81.8% rate in 2023. "As a mom of two high school graduates, I know how many soccer games, flashcards, and ACT prep courses go into getting your child across the stage to receive their diploma," Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said in a written release Friday. Michigan's four-year graduation rates increased for 14 of 17 student subgroups, according to the state. The largest rate increase was for multiracial students with 78.78% — a 3.5% increase from 75.3% in 2023. "While Michigan is showing noteworthy progress, we still have room for improvement," Dr. Michael F. Rice, Michigan's superintendent said in a written statement. "Local school districts, intermediate school districts, and the department will redouble efforts to improve graduation rates, particularly in schools that need more support to close these gaps." State officials say the new data reflects the progress made in one of 10 goals laid out in their education plan. Michigan adopted a federal formula in 2008 to calculate graduation rates each year.
Yahoo
29-01-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Confusion over Michigan Head Start programs continues
LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) — Around 9 Tuesday night the Capital Area Community Services — also known as CACS — published a social media statement about the confusion surrounding its Head Start programs across Mid-Michigan. Late Tuesday afternoon an left many worrying about what would and would not have been affected, and while a minutes before it was set to take effect, many people took to Facebook and other social media platforms to claim CACS emailed them saying, 'We have to close all of our Head Start sites and services until further notice.' Other people were writing they work for CACS Head Start and had been laid off in a similar email Tuesday afternoon. 6 News has not been able to confirm this took place. On Facebook Wednesday morning CACS wrote: From our Head Start Director, we want to let families know the following schools with Head Start Services will be open for Forest View, Gier Park, Pleasant View & will continue to communicate with staff and families as messaging comes to you! CACS Head Start It remains unclear Wednesday morning how many Head Start programs remained closed today and what will happen in the following days to the programs, students and employees. 6 News also obtained a copy of guidance sent out to lawmakers regarding the directive, which indicates that Head Start programs will not be affected. Q: Is this a freeze on benefits to Americans like SNAP or student loans? A: No, any program that provides direct benefits to Americans is explicitly excluded from the pause and exempted from this review process. In addition to Social Security and Medicare, already explicitly excluded in the guidance, mandatory programs like Medicaid and SNAP will continue without pause. Funds for small businesses, farmers, Pell grants, Head Start, rental assistance, and other similar programs will not be paused. If agencies are concerned that these programs may implicate the President's Executive Orders, they should consult OMB to begin to unwind these objectionable policies without a pause in the payments. Office of Management and Budget — Jan. 28, 2025 The following is a statement from the Michigan Department of Education, also released before the order was blocked. The Michigan Department of Education (MDE) is aware of the M-25-13 memo from the federal Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to federal agency heads on January 27, 2025. This memo puts a two-week pause on federal grant, loan, and other financial assistance programs, with the exception of assistance provided directly to is working with the Executive Office of the Governor and the Michigan Department of the Attorney General on the protection of federal funds for Michigan's students and school staff members. Attorney General Dana Nessel issued this you for all you do every day to serve Michigan's public school children and support their education Michael F. Rice, State Superintendent, Jan. 28, 202 Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
