McDonald Rivet-sponsored bill promotes more personalized learning while reducing bureaucracy in schools
LANSING, Mich. (Dec. 7, 2023) — Gov. Gretchen Whitmer celebrated the recent signing of Senate Bills 395 and 396, respectively sponsored by Sen. Dayna Polehanki (D-Livonia) and Sen. Kristen McDonald Rivet (D-Bay City). Assigned Public Acts 224 and 225, their legislation reforms Michigan’s educator evaluation process and abandons the punitive, problematic requirements enacted under the previous administration.
“We all want our students and teachers to be their best. Years of data show us that an over-burdensome, over-regulated educator evaluation process isn’t delivering that,” said Sen. McDonald Rivet. “This legislation allows for more constructive evaluations and gives teachers and local administrators greater flexibility in determining the most appropriate metrics for educator and student growth. It’s important that we get back to teachers focusing more on student needs instead of ‘teaching to the test’.”
“We appreciate all the work that went into this issue and are pleased to see the bills signed into law,” said Jennifer Smith, Michigan Association of School Boards. “These changes will help make teacher and administrator evaluations more effective, and including student growth as a portion of the evaluation will continue to hold districts accountable to their students, parents and communities.”
During hearings conducted by the Michigan Senate and House Education Committees this fall, Sen. McDonald Rivet testified on the negative impact of the state government being overly prescriptive and tying teacher evaluations to standardized testing. She explained over-testing and over-weighting of testing did not prioritize student needs and did not result in the growth Michigan wants in our educators or students.
Additional information on the substance and impact of this legislation may be found here.
For Press Use: (left) Sen. Kristen McDonald Rivet (D-Bay City) celebrates signing of Senate Bill 396 with Gov. Whitmer in Lansing, and (right) Sen. McDonald Rivet testifies before the House Committee on Education in support of her bill, Senate Bill 396.
###