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State superintendent candidate Thomas Ahehart prioritizes third‑grade reading, ELL supports and school transparency
Summary
In an interview with the State Board of Education, Dr. Thomas Ahehart said his top priorities would be accelerating third‑grade literacy through in‑year public benchmarks, scaling standards‑referenced grading, and improving supports and funding clarity for English language learners and foster students.
Dr. Thomas Ahehart, a candidate for Michigan state superintendent, told the State Board of Education he would make accelerating third‑grade reading proficiency a top statewide priority. Speaking at his interview, Ahehart said the Department of Education can help by establishing and publicizing in‑year benchmarks so communities can monitor progress rather than rely on end‑of‑year “autopsies.”
Ahehart said he favors a governance approach he implemented in Des Moines in which boards spend more than half of meeting time on student outcomes and districts set 3‑ to 5‑year SMART goals tailored to local challenges, such as third‑grade literacy or ninth‑grade algebra completion. “If you have too many…
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