Insider Intelligence

Legislation that would exempt high school graduation ceremonies from current COVID-19 restrictions was approved by the legislature this week. The Senate passed a bill that would exempt the ceremonies from Department of Health and Human Services epidemic orders, which currently have restrictions on the number of people allowed to attend public events based on the […]

The U.S. Department of Education denied Michigan’s request to waive the federal requirement to administer the state summative assessments. The Michigan Department of Education (MDE) requested the waiver due to the disruption to schools caused by COVID-19. According to State Superintendent Dr. Michael Rice, part of the reason for the request was to allow teachers […]

This afternoon, Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced the state has set a goal for all school districts to offer an option for in-person learning no later than March 1. Despite a brief shutdown of in-person learning at high schools in November and December, the decision of in-person vs. virtual learning has been left up to individual […]

The Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO) has been awarded $17 million in a U.S. Department of Education competitive grant to respond to the economic impact of COVID-19. The funds will help Michigan jobseekers make the jump from education and training to employment by delivering short- and mid-term customized training solutions. LEO will utilize […]

Created to provide educational opportunities for Hispanic students and motivate them to pursue higher education, the McDonald’s HACER National Scholarship has awarded more than $31.5 million in scholarships, to-date, and helped 17,060 students since its founding in 1985. It is one of the largest programs committed to college scholarships and resources for Hispanics, awarding a […]

McDonald’s announced the HACER More Scholarship, which will provide 100 additional scholarships for Hispanic students. The increased financial strain caused by the pandemic has caused additional uncertainty amongst families working to pay for higher education. As a result, McDonald’s hopes to alleviate some of that financial strain through the awarded scholarships. This program is an […]

This week the House passed legislation aimed at providing flexibility for schools as they prepare for the new school year. The plan allows for school districts and local health departments to work together to develop health and safety standards that are best for their area. This includes the choice for continued distance learning or in-person […]

This week, Governor Gretchen Whitmer released a comprehensive document to help school districts create local plans for in-person learning this fall. It outlines a number of safety protocols for schools to implement in each phase of the governor’s MI Safe Start Plan, including, guidance on the use of PPE, good hygiene, cleaning/disinfecting, spacing in classrooms, […]