By 
Yazeed Moore, senior program officer at the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, was recently appointed to the first-ever Michigan Parents’ Council. Established by Governor Gretchen Whitmer, the Michigan Parent’s Council formally involves parents in the state’s education budgeting process – a first in the history of Michigan.
The Michigan Parents’ Council will expand on Governor Whitmer’s inclusion of parental perspectives in the recent education budget. The council includes parents of students with a range of educational needs, such as students with Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) and students who speak English as a second language, as well as including parents from different communities across Michigan.
“The formation of this council feels like a watershed moment as it provides an opportunity to center the lived experiences of families, parents, students and communities more into the discussions of supporting, funding and reimagining education in Michigan so our children can thrive and have the opportunities to be fearless and supported in their pursuits and achievements in school, work and life,” Moore said. “This is particularly important as Michigan looks for ways to leverage and improve educational outcomes for children, particularly Black and Brown children, on the heels of a pandemic and record dollars being approved for schools via the most equitable budget in years. Parents and community should have a voice, presence and stake in these discussions to ensure that their children’s needs, dreams, hopes and aspirations are truly represented.”
The 11 appointees to the Michigan Parents’ Council will facilitate and organize regional roundtables with families throughout Michigan to ensure parent voices are heard and incorporated into the education budget process. The Michigan Department of Education’s Superintendent of Public Instruction and the governor’s K-12 policy advisor are both represented on the council, as is the president of the Michigan PTA.
The Kellogg Foundation has long championed parent engagement in education. Check out some of the following stories to learn more:
- Battle Creek Public Schools Transformation: Community Engagement and Partnerships
- Wisdom of the first educators
- Love on every block: the power of moms
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