Tri-County Alliance for Public Education is now The K-12 Alliance of Michigan
Genesee, St. Clair Counties Join Newly Expanded Education Group
The Tri-County Alliance for Public Education announced today that as part of an expansion that has grown the organization beyond Wayne, Oakland and Macomb Counties, it has rebranded as The K-12 Alliance of Michigan to better represent the organization’s membership and mission going forward.
The group, which now also includes the school districts within Genesee and St. Clair Counties, will further its efforts to advocate for better public education policies in both Lansing and Washington D.C. and ensure that every child in Michigan has equitable access to a quality education and the opportunity to succeed both in and outside of the classroom.
“I’m proud of the leadership role that TCA played for years as education policies were debated and I’m excited to see that role only grow further through this expanded partnership under the banner of The K-12 Alliance,” said Mark Greathead, president of The K-12 Alliance of Michigan and Superintendent of Woodhaven-Brownstown Schools. “The leadership within Genesee and St. Clair County schools share our goals and our vision for this organization and, together, we firmly believe that this expanded partnership will help amplify our collective voice on behalf of Michigan’s schools and the students we serve.”
Together, the newly expanded organization represents school districts educating roughly 580,000 students, over 40% of Michigan’s K-12 students.
“The challenges we face as school leaders throughout the region share far more in common than they differ and this partnership through The K-12 Alliance will better allow us to work through them together,” said Dr. Lisa Hagel, Superintendent of Genesee Intermediate School District. “The K-12 Alliance of Michigan is emerging as Michigan’s leading voice in education and becoming a part of the organization means ensuring the communities we represent throughout Genesee County have a seat at the table.”
Since the COVID-19 pandemic emerged, The K-12 Alliance of Michigan has been working to identify solutions to best serve students and families amid a historic shift in the education climate. As Superintendents faced a never-before-seen reinvention of public education, The Alliance fought for policy solutions and funding to improve students’ opportunities to succeed.
Recent advocacy issues The Alliance has focused on have included: funding to address the additional costs associated with reopening schools amid COVID-19; clarity in the count process for the purposes of state aid payments; and flexibility in how education can be delivered to best serve students during the unpredictable 2020–21 school year.
“We recognize the critical role The K-12 Alliance of Michigan has played in advocating on behalf of students, teachers and school leaders, and we are thrilled to add our voices to the work that is underway,” said Kevin Miller, Superintendent of St. Clair Regional Educational Service Agency. “We look forward to partnering to grow the awareness of the opportunities to improve access to a quality education in our state.”
More information on The K-12 Alliance of Michigan can be found at k12michigan.org, on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/K12Michigan/ and on twitter at https://twitter.com/K12Michigan.
