Lunch woes? Staff shortages? Quarantines? Tell us how Michigan’s school year is going.

This Chalkbeat callout shows children eating lunch at a long table in Detroit.
Most Michigan students are back to learning in-person, a welcome change after a year in virtual school. But COVID remains a major obstacle to education. As we continue to cover this challenging, hopeful year, we’re asking parents to guide us. (Anthony Lanzilote for Chalkbeat)

When Michigan schools reopened this fall, the new semester was hailed as an opportunity for academic and social recovery after a COVID-scrambled school year.

So far, the results have been mixed.

Most students are back to learning in person, a welcome change after a challenging year in virtual school. But COVID remains a major obstacle to education.

Just ask the students in lengthy quarantines, parents concerned about shortages of special education aides and security guards, and families that had to scramble after their child’s school was closed due to a COVID outbreak.

As we continue to cover this challenging, hopeful year, we’re asking parents to guide us.

Please tell us about your concerns and priorities by filling out the survey below. If you have trouble viewing the survey, go here.

The Latest

The budget Gov. Gretchen Whitmer proposed Wednesday would increase taxes in some areas, such as for cigarette purchases, to raise revenue in Michigan.

Some school board members raised concerns about the first semester ending after winter break in the next two school years. Chicago Public Schools officials said their proposed calendar is an option preferred by most surveyed families.

Minnesota superintendents say their districts feel the effects of immigration enforcement every day. They’re suing the Department of Homeland Security to restore ‘sensitive locations’ protections.

Three charters are leaning on their overseer, Chicago Public Schools, to help with making payroll. Critics argue fiscal missteps are the cause of the fiscal distress, but charter advocates counter it’s due to district underfunding.

The group discussed a variety of topics, but among the top five priorities was combating chronic absenteeism

Interim Superintendent Roderick Richmond said Tuesday that no official findings or conclusions have been reached in the $6 million investigation, despite state lawmakers insisting on ‘concerning’ early results.