Education and accountability are two critical pillars that shape the future of our communities. In this episode of Policy Pros, Doug DeVos, chair of the communications committee for the West Michigan Policy Forum, and Jase Bolger, former speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives, dive deep into the state of education in Michigan. The two discuss the increasing funding for schools and the unfortunate reality that higher spending doesn’t always translate into better results for our children. This conversation highlights the urgent need for accountability, both within educational systems and among our elected officials, to ensure a bright future for all of the state’s learners.

The conversation even touches on the concept of “tough love” and why it is sometimes necessary to push in order to achieve better outcomes in education. Policies like third grade reading benchmarks and A-F school ratings may seem harsh, but their goal is to give families clearer information and ensure every child has the opportunity to succeed. By holding schools accountable and providing the necessary support, we can give every child the opportunity to succeed.

Watch the full episode of Policy Pros above, and sign up for the West Michigan Policy Forum’s newsletter.