Education

More third graders will be held back for reading, study says

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By JEREMY WAHR
Capital News Service

LANSING — New reading standards will force many Michigan children to retake the third grade, especially children of color, a recent study says. Starting in 2020, third graders who can’t read will be held back under the “Read by Grade Three” law. The law was passed in 2016 because many children are unable to read by the third grade, said Gilda Jacobs, president of the Michigan League for Public Policy, the organization that conducted the study. The results of the state’s 2016 standardized testing showed that over half of third graders were not proficient in English. But schools are not receiving funding promised to ensure that students receive the education needed to meet these new standards, said Jacobs, whose organization had supported the legislation if students received the support they needed to pass the standards.

Capital News Service

Collecting more information could help police build trust, study suggests

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By JEREMY WAHR
Capital News Service

LANSING — Information that could help protect citizens from being unfairly targeted and police from unfair accusations is not required to be collected. Michigan is among 29 states that don’t require police to collect demographic information during vehicle stops, according to a study by the National Conference of State Legislatures and the Laura and John Arnold Foundation. Collecting demographic information from people stopped by the police should be the norm, said Dale Nesbary, the president of Muskegon Community College and a former research director for the Boston Police Department. “It is very difficult to know that we live in 2018, and only half the states properly collect demographic information,” Nesbary said. “I don’t think that is acceptable.”

Although there are no legislative obligations to collect data, or any statewide or national databases, most police agencies do collect some form of identification, said Mark Barnett, the chief of the Ludington Police Department.

Capital News Service

New health insurance plan available to Michigan small businesses

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By JEREMY WAHR
Capital News Service

LANSING — Would a new health care plan reduce the price of premiums for small businesses in Michigan? Jennifer Kluge, president of the Michigan Business and Professional Association, says it will. The plan, called Transcend AHP, will be offered as of Oct. 8 by small business advocacy  groups to businesses with 50 employees or fewer. The plan was created by the Michigan Business and Professional Association and the Small Business Association of Michigan.

Capital News Service

Audit: State child protection agency fails to adequately protect kids

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A state agency charged with protecting children often failed to check a registry of child abuse offenders in the cases reviewed by a state audit. Also, caseworkers in up to 11 percent of the cases examined failed to meet promptly with their charges, according to the Auditor General. Lawmakers are calling for improvements to the Child Protective Services agency and Gov. Rick Snyder has appointed a task force to make recommendations, including a member from Allegan County. Meanwhile child advocates say cases of abuse are increasing.

Capital News Service

Firefighting chemical linked to water safety concerns

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While health agencies statewide investigate the link between contaminated drinking water and a firefighting foam, use of the substance remains legal. The chemical, known as PFAS, is linked to contamination at Gerald R. Ford International Airport and Camp Grayling. Firefighters say alternative foams aren’t as effective.