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Public commenters urge lower disability dropout targets, fuller Juneteenth history in curriculum, and praise improvements to grants process
Summary
Public commenters asked the board to revise the state's dropout targets for students with disabilities, urged educators to teach the fuller history of Juneteenth, and applauded the department's steps to streamline and track state grants.
During the public participation portion, three commenters addressed the board.
Heather Eckner, statewide director of education for the Autism Alliance of Michigan, called attention to Michigan’s graduation outcomes for students with disabilities and urged the department to lower the State Performance Plan’s dropout target (she said a 20% target for 2025 is too high). Eckner called for an "aggressive and urgent initiative" to reduce dropout rates using evidence‑based resources and greater system accountability.
Dr. Jeffrey Robinson, principal of Paul Robeson Malcolm X Academy, urged educators to teach the fuller context of Juneteenth, arguing that some common narratives misstate the holiday's meaning and that schools should incorporate the story of self‑liberation and Black contributions to Union victory.
Vanessa Kiesler of LAUNCH Michigan called the department's efforts on the "grants clock" a success, saying the group tracked 101 state grants and noting the department’s process improvements and grant repository established by the superintendent's task force. Kiesler urged greater reliance on formula and weighted funding rather than competitive or direct grants to reduce administrative burden on districts.
