Event to highlight latest education legislation, accountability for parents

State Rep. Jamie Thompson will host a roundtable and workshop for parents on Friday, Oct. 13, allowing people to share their thoughts and be informed on legislation that will influence education in Michigan. 

The event will begin at 5:30 p.m. at Woodhaven Community Center, located at 23101 Hall Road in Woodhaven. Joining Thompson as a special guest will be House Education Committee Republican Vice Chair Jaime Greene, of Richmond. Residents, local officials and educators are welcome to attend.

“As a mother of three and legal guardian to three of my grandchildren, transparency, effectiveness and workability is critical for our education system,” said Thompson, of Brownstown. “Even before I started representing families in Monroe and Wayne counties in the Legislature, parental input and accountability within our education system have been extremely important issues for people across our area. This event will bring together leaders and parents for a constructive conversation about where our state is going with education and what is needed for our kids and families.

“When kids are in school, they are at a critical point in their development. We need plans that put our children on the best path to success in the classroom while also ensuring the relationship between parents and educators is prioritized and on solid ground.”

Thompson has been a champion for accountability for parents, a more efficient education system that works for kids and families, and increased school safety since the start of the 2023-24 legislative term.

With calls from families throughout the state for increased safety at school, she has advocated for grant funding for local school districts to improve building safety features and fought for specific language in the current fiscal year budget that would have helped more school districts hire and retain school resource officers to protect students and staff. The signed budget removed the specific language while spending lavishly in other areas, such as $150 million for green-energy school buses.

Thompson has also opposed recently signed laws that alter collective bargaining agreements for schools. The plans strip input from local officials who know their staffs best, negatively impact how teachers are evaluated for performance, and will ultimately erode trust between parents and schools through a lack of transparency.

The roundtable is the second in a series hosted by Thompson discussing key issues in Michigan. People seeking more information about this Friday’s event can contact Thompson’s office by calling (517) 373-1772 or emailing JamieThompson@house.mi.gov.