Across the country there have been conservative pushes to incorporate religion into classrooms, from Florida legislation allowing school districts to have volunteer chaplains to counsel students to Oklahoma’s top education official ordering public schools to incorporate the Bible into lessons.
However, the data showed that if an uncertified teacher had previous classroom experience–such as working as a substitute–students performed on par with those taught by certified educators.
The FY 2025 bill, approved by an appropriations subcommittee, would reduce funding for Title I state grants by 25%, hurting schools that receive supplemental aid for enrolling 40% or more children from low-income families.
"At a time where we need an education experience to be anything but average, we continue to see students give their schools neutral scores on the metrics that matter most," pollster says
The state superintendent, Ryan Walters, said the Bible was a “necessary historical document.” The mandate comes as part of a conservative movement to infuse Christian values in public schools.
Many Michigan families would receive free pre-K and all high school graduates would receive free community college education under the 2025 spending plan.
Harrison Peters is the CEO and co-founder of Men of Color in Education Leadership (MCEL), a mentoring and PD organization that encourages men of color to aspire to principalships, superintendencies and other administrative positions.
