Rep. Donni Steele is speaking out against misguided education policy signed by the governor last month. The package allows teachers’ unions to negotiate student performance criteria out of teacher evaluations. This comes as experts report Michigan students are still behind pre-pandemic achievement levels. Ranked against other states on fourth-grade reading scores, Michigan fell from 32nd in 2019 to 43rd in 2022.

“We owe it to our kids to put them in the best position to succeed,” said Steele, R-Orion Township. “Repealing the third-grade reading law lets so many kids fall through the cracks. Less teacher accountability will make the crisis so much worse.”

Before the change, 40 percent of an annual teacher evaluation could be based on academic achievement. Under new law, academic achievement criteria are capped at 20 percent. Teachers’ unions also can negotiate down to zero percent of evaluations based on academic achievement. Supporters said teachers should not be accountable for poor student grades.

“Every district sees kids struggling in school, at home, or both,” Steele said. “Most teachers do everything possible to help these kids learn, but there are a few bad eggs. We should be recognizing and celebrating the teachers who go above and beyond. Instead, this plan lets ineffective teachers keep failing kids. Keeping these teachers doesn’t just hold back the kids; it prevents districts from hiring new teachers willing to do the hard work. School is the only way out for some of these kids, yet this plan lets poor teachers overlook them before they even get a shot.”

The Democrat majority in the Legislature also passed a supplemental budget along party lines. The plan included $114.1 million in bailout money for failing school districts. Steele, who sits on the House Appropriations Committee, said this only purpurates financial mismanagement for the worst performing schools.

“Signing taxpayers up for blank checks to collapsing districts is grossly irresponsible,” Steele said. “This misguided plan enables the bad decisions to continue. Kids deserve a quality education. Bailing out failing districts won’t make that happen. This only prolongs a cycle that will never lift up struggling kids.”

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