Raising Our Voices in 2014
January 24, 2014 – With the holiday season behind us, the 2014 election season will soon take center stage. Unfortunately the future of children, youth and families in Michigan often…
Blog
Improving the State of our State
January 17, 2014 – The Governor’s annual State of the State address last night was his opportunity to talk about what he sees as the status of Michigan over the…
Resolve to Better Serve Michigan’s Youngest
January 8, 2014 – As gym membership purchases skyrocket and cookie sales take a hit, there’s nothing like the start to a new year to have folks think about all…
Information for Action
December 17, 2013 – It is that time of year again. No, I’m not talking about snow, ice or family gatherings. I’m talking about comprehensive county-level information about children and…
Seventeen Years of Expert Testimony
December 16, 2013 – Decision-makers gathered last week, representing the Governor’s Office, a bi-partisan group of 17 members of the Michigan Legislature, the State Board of Education, the Departments of…
Prosperity in Michigan: What Do We Need for the Climb?
December 3, 2013 – Kurt Metzger is perhaps the most experienced demographer in Michigan. He is currently the director emeritus of Data Driven Detroit, an initiative of the Michigan Nonprofit…
Those Precious First Days
Two weeks ago, I welcomed my son – Lennon – into this world. Being my first child, I must admit that I was less anxious about the actual labor and…
Extending Educational Accountability Beyond the School Doors
We have high expectations of our education system, and rightly so. Educators have one of the most important jobs with the greatest ability to impact Michigan’s economic recovery. Do we…
Shining a Spotlight on Third Grade Reading
Last month, House Bill (HB) 5111 was introduced to address the significant challenges Michigan students face regarding third grade reading proficiency. The 2012 Michigan Kids Count Data Book reported that…
Cross-Sector Coordination Essential in the First Eight Years of Life
Today, the Annie E. Casey Foundation released a Kids Count Policy Report titled The First Eight Years: Giving Kids a Foundation for Lifetime Success. This report takes a close look…