Northview — Third-graders across the district started the school year learning about Michigan’s official state symbols.
In Amy Schelhaas’ West Oakview classroom, for instance, Shayla Macon can tell you that the state fish is a brook trout. She chose to research the colorful freshwater dwellers because, she said, “it’s just fun going swimming with fish and seeing them under water.” She added that brook trout eat insects and worms, and that “I’m pretty sure they can survive, like, three weeks without food if they have to.”
Jack Barecki focused on the state wildflower, the dwarf lake iris. “It just looks like a cool flower,” he said of the threatened purple flower that grows only along the northern shores of lakes Huron and Michigan.
Schelhaas said the project aligns with third-graders’ geography and social studies unit.
“They have many options to choose from, and when they have the choice they take ownership,” she said.
At a glance: Michigan’s 2027 state education budget
The 2027 state education budget, signed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in July, invests:
- $96.1 million to continue free pre-K for all through the Great Start Readiness Program program, and $30 million to expand and support the early educator workforce
- $200 million to continue free school meals for all
- $150 million to continue bonuses and supports for teachers and educators across Michigan
- $107 million to support the MI Future Educator Fellowship Program, teacher stipends, and Grow Your Own mentoring programs — all aimed to help attract, recruit and retain high-quality educators
- $321 million to support student wellness through mental health and safety grants
- $125 million to reimburse districts with exorbitant transportation costs
- $123 million to continue expanded support for special education students
- $40 million to reimburse eligible districts for dual enrollment costs
Source: Gov. Whitmer signs education budget to help every kid read, eat and succeed
