Pontiac Times

Rep. Donni Steele, a representative from Orion Township, has voiced her concerns regarding recent education policy changes in Michigan. The policy, which was signed by the governor last month, allows teachers' unions to negotiate student performance criteria out of teacher evaluations. Steele argues that this change will have a negative impact on student achievement and is a disservice to the children.

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, experts have reported that Michigan students are still lagging behind pre-pandemic achievement levels. In terms of fourth-grade reading scores, Michigan has dropped from 32nd in the nation in 2019 to 43rd in 2022. This decline in educational performance highlights the need for effective measures to improve student outcomes.

Steele emphasizes the importance of holding teachers accountable for their students' academic performance. She believes that repealing the third-grade reading law, which allowed for a significant portion of teacher evaluations to be based on academic achievement, will lead to a decline in teacher accountability. The new law caps the weight of academic achievement criteria at 20 percent and allows teachers' unions to negotiate down to zero percent. Steele expresses her concern, stating, "Less teacher accountability will make the crisis so much worse."

The representative acknowledges that there may be challenges faced by students, both in school and at home. However, she believes that most teachers go above and beyond to support their students' learning. Steele argues that it is crucial to recognize and celebrate these dedicated educators. Allowing ineffective teachers to remain in the system not only hinders students' progress but also prevents districts from hiring new teachers who are willing to put in the necessary effort. She adds, "School is the only way out for some of these kids, yet this plan lets poor teachers overlook them before they even get a shot."

Steele is critical of the supplemental budget passed by the Democrat majority in the Legislature. The budget includes $114.1 million in bailout funds for failing school districts. As a member of the House Appropriations Committee, she believes that this allocation perpetuates financial mismanagement in the worst-performing schools. Steele argues that bailing out failing districts does not address the underlying issues and fails to provide a quality education for students. She states, "Signing taxpayers up for blank checks to collapsing districts is grossly irresponsible. This misguided plan enables the bad decisions to continue. Kids deserve a quality education. Bailing out failing districts won't make that happen. This only prolongs a cycle that will never lift up struggling kids."

Rep. Donni Steele's concerns regarding the removal of teacher accountability in Michigan's education policy highlight the importance of ensuring that teachers are held responsible for their students' academic performance. With the state's declining educational rankings, it is crucial to prioritize measures that will improve student outcomes and provide a quality education for all.

Click this link to access more information: https://gophouse.org/posts/rep-steele-removing-teacher-accountability-fails-our-kids