LANSING, Mich. — Sen. Roger Hauck voiced his support for a newly introduced bill package that focuses on improving academic outcomes for Michigan students.

“Schools across the state are underperforming and leaving kids unprepared for the future,” said Hauck, R-Mt. Pleasant. “This trend is made evident by our state’s position at the bottom of the list nationally for important academic standards.

“We rank 43rd nationally for high school graduation rates and fourth-grade reading proficiency. Only 32% of fourth graders are proficient in math, and our average SAT scores are the lowest since the test became statewide in 2015. This poor performance will only be exacerbated by the watering down of teacher evaluation standards and elimination of reading proficiency benchmarks that the Democrat majority voted to get rid of last term.”

The four pillars of the newly introduced MI Brighter Future plan are:

1. Set the bar high. Strengthen key provisions of the third-grade reading law, require student progress to be part of every teacher’s evaluation process once again, and restore the A-F grading scale for parents to easily understand how schools are performing.
2. The best teachers where they’re needed most. Provide bonuses to highly effective teachers who take positions in schools where they can have the biggest impact rather than promoting and retaining teachers despite classroom performance.
3. Give every kid a chance. No student should ever be left behind because of their means or ZIP code. Scholarship opportunities will help families afford additional educational assistance and help cover the costs of summer or after-school reading programs.
4. Back to the basics. Reading is the foundation of a successful education. But too many schools have gone away from teaching the basics and reading scores have plummeted. Our plan will ensure teachers are trained in proven phonics-based reading methods that have worked for decades.

“This package would right the wrongs approved by the Legislature last term and will set the bar higher and expand opportunities for Michigan students to get a quality education that sets them up for a strong academic and professional future,” Hauck said.

Senate Bills 710-715 have been referred to the Senate Committee on Education.

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