ICYMI: Moolenaar Holds Education Roundtable with Secretary McMahon

Today, Congressman John Moolenaar held a roundtable discussion at the Pembrooke Academy in Detroit between Michigan charter school leaders and Secretary of Education, Linda McMahon. The group discussed the state of education in Michigan, and how the schools are addressing educational challenges, including learning loss students faced during the COVID pandemic, as well as declining test scores in reading and math among students. The group also addressed the benefit of alternative school models offered in Michigan, such as public charter schools, and homeschooling.

"Today, we had a productive conversation with charter school administrators on the role they play to improve the educational outcomes of students in our state. I believe when parents are given the power to choose the school that fits the needs of their students, they will make the right choice. I am grateful for Secretary McMahon's leadership at the Department of Education and her mission to return power in education to parents and the states," said Moolenaar.

In her opening remarks, Secretary McMahon said, "I have begun this tour because I want to see what best practices are around the country - to look at different kinds of schools: public, charter, private, religious schools, micro-schools. Just to see what these schools are teaching and how they're teaching it, and what success they're having, so that we can actually put together toolkits for other states."

She continued, "Because as we return education to the states, if those states aren't performing as well as others, or if they just generally want to look at the process that's going on in the country, I think it's going to be very helpful to say, this program is really working here. It's not a mandate for you to adopt it, because we're not giving mandates, but it is simply proven materials to show that the success has been had in many states with different programs."

Congressman Moolenaar and Secretary of Education Linda McMahon.

Congressman Moolenaar was joined at the roundtable by Congressman Tim Walberg (R-MI), the Chairman of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, and Congressman Burgess Owens (R-UT). Moolenaar is the co-chair of the Congressional School Choice Caucus with Senator Tim Scott (R-SC).

Moolenaar leads a roundtable discussion between Secretary McMahon and Michigan charter school administrators.