In the wake of recent laws dramatically reworking Michigan’s previously harsh “zero tolerance” student discipline policies, a group of eight organizations is reaching out to state schools to assist them in implementing new practices.

Michigan public education is being eroded – through the advancement of for-profit charter schools, by way of threats of school closures, and now with the diversion of public school funding to private schools. 

Amy Hunter, Coordinator of the ACLU Transgender Advocacy Project, today issued the following statement addressing the State of Michigan Board of Education Statement and Guidance on Safe and Supportive Learning Environments for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning (LGBTQ) Students.

We strongly urge that the Michigan Department of Education adopt in full the draft guidelines from the State Board of Education and that local school districts statewide implement them.

Last month, Michigan received the dubious distinction of ranking dead last in the nation for state ethics and transparency laws. The State received an “F” based on the weaknesses of these laws and the systems in place to enforce them, which were collectively deemed “An honor system with no honor.”

Concerned over a lack of transparency from the state-run Education Achievement Authority, the American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan announced this week that it has filed a lawsuit against the controversial school district in an effort to learn details of the specific special-education services provided to district students under a multimillion-dollar deal between the EAA and Futures Education of Michigan.

GRAND RAPIDS — Warning against the unconstitutional use of religious beliefs as employment criteria in public education, the American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan in a letter today urged administrators in the McBain school district to remove from a job posting a requirement that superintendent candidates have “a strong Christian background and philosophy.”

UPDATE: After receiving our letter, the McBain School District removed the reference to “a strong Christian background and philosophy” from its job listing.

DETROIT — Subjected to both harsh zero tolerance policies and an increasing police presence on campuses, public school students in Michigan are being suspended, expelled and arrested at an alarming rate for even the most minor infractions, according to a report released today by the American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan.

In Michigan, our current approach to school discipline is driving far too many public-school students—especially students of color—out of the classroom. In many cases, these children wind up booted out of state public-school districts altogether. Far too often, they also wind up in handcuffs.

And in most cases, the discipline policies do little to actually make schools safer.

You might expect Atiya Haynes to be downhearted.

DETROIT – In a blow to schoolchildren statewide, the Michigan Court of Appeals ruled on Friday that the State of Michigan has no legal obligation to provide a quality public education to students in the struggling Highland Park School District.