Who decides the future of education? We all do.

Our State of Education is The Skillman Foundation’s monthly show featuring a variety of voices, together forming a new vision for Michigan’s K-12 schools.

Tune in to hear students, parents, teachers, business leaders, policymakers, and more, hashing out the most pressing needs and promising solutions in schools. Our State of Education lets you know what’s happening in education and what you can do to support it.

Our State of Education airs on WJR radio (channel 760 AM) and is available to livestream online at WJR.com. Every episode recording will be available here, on YouTube, and on all podcast platforms.

This month on Our State of Education

We’re looking back at the major education policy shifts of 2025—nationally and here in Michigan—and exploring what they indicate for the year ahead.

At The Skillman Foundation, we believe every citizen should have a shot at the American dream, and that starts with a strong, future-forward public education system. Constant reforms are happening to update and upgrade schools, although not all are effective or positive. Public education, like democracy itself, is a perpetual project that requires our steadfast commitment and ongoing examination.

Our guests, Bethany Little, managing principal at EducationCounsel, and Regina Bell, chief policy officer at the Council of Michigan Foundations, help us examine what happened in K-12 education policy last year –the good and the not-so-good–and what is on the horizon as we enter the new year.

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