Struggling Michigan school districts receive $25M to boost student math scores

(The Center Square) – The Michigan Department of Education is awarding nearly $25 million in grants to local public education agencies to fund K-5 mathematics programs aimed at improving math instruction and learning recovery.

The announcement follows MDE data released last week showing mixed progress in mathematics learning in schools across the state.

“It’s exciting to see the enormous interest of local and intermediate school districts in these math grants,” said State Superintendent Dr. Michael F. Rice. “These grants will help improve mathematics teaching and learning throughout the state.”

Wayne Regional Educational Service Agency, one of the 16 grant awardees, pledged to use the $1.8 million it received to ensure its educators and students can access “high-quality, highly aligned, and culturally relevant math instructional materials.”

"In order for our students to thrive, they must see themselves in culturally relevant and rich instruction, and we must support our educators as they implement research-based and evolving curriculum," Wayne RESA superintendent Dr. Daveda Colbert said. “We are grateful for this critical funding that will undoubtedly strengthen our math instruction and our students' learning by enriching the way we involve teachers in adopting teaching tools and materials to best serve our students in a constantly evolving landscape."

Other grant recipients, including Pickford and Walkerville public schools, the Pontiac school district, West Branch-Rose City area schools, and the Gratiot-Isabella Regional Education Service District, received a total of $1.4 million to spend on high quality mathematics instructional materials.

Gogebic-Ontonagon Intermediate School District received $10.4 million, and Ypsilanti Community Schools received $809,800 for developing systems conducive to early math specialists.

“On behalf of our children and ISDs, in collaboration with the Michigan Association of Intermediate School Administrators, we are excited to support K-5 educators and leaders throughout Michigan in implementing research-supported mathematics practices,” Gogebic-Ontonagon Intermediate School District superintendent Alan Tulppo said.

The Kalamazoo Regional Educational Service Agency received more than $3.5 million and the Muskegon Area Intermediate School District received $334,600 to expand math recovery specialists for students falling behind.

Dearborn, Fennville, and Northview public schools were granted more than $4 million combined for implementing personalized math support programs to prevent students from falling behind, while the Genesee and Washtenaw Intermediate school districts received a total of $2.1 million.

Five more grants also support teachers and students within some districts, with the rest of the funding going towards individual district efforts to improve mathematics instruction and learning.