(Photo courtesy of The Center for Michigan)
The Center for Michigan describes itself as a “think and do tank.” The Ann Arbor-based non-profit public policy organization is holding a series of “community conversations” on education around the state, including Southwest Michigan last week. The Kalamazoo Gazette’s coverage of a forum at Portage Northern High School can be found here.
Center for Michigan executive director John Bebow says the center is looking for a broad cross-section of the public in the state. He says that model has worked well on other issues since the Center for Michigan was launched in 2006.
Bebow says now is a good time to begin a series of community conversations on education. He says the Center wants to hear from the “customers” of education. Bebow says those are students, parents and job providers. He says front line educators also don’t get heard from enough in the debate on education reform.
Bebow says the community conversations will focus on setting priorities for education in Michigan. He says the Center for Michigan will prepare a report based on their community conversations about education. Bebow says that will be presented to state lawmakers early next year.
