Up North Progressive

The Michigan Department of Education updated the content standards for social studies and science, and they invite the public to comment on the proposed updates for Michigan’s K-12 public schools. People can fill out an online survey and attend public information sessions scheduled throughout the state.

Michigan’s new State Superintendent, Brian Whiston, had this to say:

These are the overall statewide content standards in science and social studies. How they are taught in the classroom curriculum in each school is a decision made by each local school district across the state.

We want to make ourselves available to the public to offer comment on what will be Michigan’s updated standards for social studies and science. We’re inviting educators, parents, students and other members of the public to share their thoughts with us.

There are several sessions for the public in Northern Michigan to attend, listen to a presentation of the new standards, and provide comment to the Department of Education. In Northern Michigan you can attend public sessions at these locations:

August 26, 2015 3:00 to 6:00 pm Eastern Upper Peninsula Intermediate School District
315 Armory Place Sault Ste. Marie (906) 632-3373

August 27, 2015 5:00 to 8:00 pm Seaborg Math/Science Center, Northern Michigan University
2805 Presque Isle Ave. Marquette, (906)227-2002

September 3, 2015 5:00 to 8:00 pm Central Michigan University Bovee University Terrace Rooms
Mount Pleasant, (989)774-4387

September 21, 2015 5:00 to 8:00 pm Traverse Bay Area Intermediate School District
1101 Red Drive, Traverse City, (231)922-6200

If you’re unable to attend a session, you can also fill out surveys for the science content standards and the social studies content standards online.

Content standards are used to provide a guide of outcomes for teachers to plan lessons in their subject area. In other states content standards have been rewritten to include revisionist history that is very inaccurate, and prohibit students to learn about the very real impact climate change is having on our planet. It’s important to keep our state accountable to teaching real science and accurate history.

If it’s possible for you to participate in the public sessions or take the survey, please do so. Let the state know that you want sound curriculum standards taught in Michigan’s public schools.