State Superintendent of Instruction Michael Rice announced on Tuesday that his department would be updating its long-term education plan.
Rice told the State Board of Education during its monthly meeting on Monday that he will be working with “external stakeholders” to update and rework the state’s Top 10 in 10 plan. The Top 10 in 10 plan is a seven-point plan that aims to get Michigan in the top 10 states for education in 10 years.
“The Top 10 in 10 strategic plan has served us well for its first three and half years,” Rice said at the meeting. “We appreciate its guidance. At the same time, many of us are familiar with strategic plans that are annually reviewed.”
Rice said that he does not plan to “disregard the terrific work that’s embedded” with the state’s plan, but rather to “streamline, to clarify and to add metrics.”
The Top 10 in 10 was implemented in 2016 and is made of seven goals, including reducing high-risk factors like poverty, increasing parent engagement and ensuring partnerships with job opportunities and higher education.
Rice has been leading the State Board of Education as superintendent for slightly more than 40 days.
Education experts have said that Michigan is not on the path to becoming a top-performing state for K-12 education, according to The Detroit News.
Rice said it’s important to “have an understanding — a common understanding — not simply within the board, not simply within the department, but more broadly in the state as a whole about what we want to be kept in 10 in 10.”
Rice said they should have an upgraded plan by spring. He did not say exactly which goals would be changed or if any would be eliminated.
Rice’s announcement seemed to be met with a positive reaction from the rest of the board.
“I agree; I think it’s time for us to re-evaluate the Top 10. We can look at it and see what makes sense,” said Board president Casandra Ulbrich. “I don’t think it was ever fully understood what we were comparing ourselves to.”
Read more about Michigan’s Top 10 in 10 plan here.
Jordyn Pair is a reporter for Battleground State News and The Michigan Star. Follow her on Twitter at @JordynPair. Email her at [email protected].
