Join Chalkbeat Detroit’s free publication to maintain up with town’s public faculty system and Michigan schooling coverage.
Michigan State Superintendent of Public Instruction Michael Rice introduced Friday he’s retiring from his place.
Rice’s retirement from main the Michigan Division of Schooling will probably be efficient Oct. 3.
“It’s been an honor to serve Michigan’s 1.4 million public faculty kids over the past six faculty years,” stated Rice in a press release.
Rice was appointed to his place by the State Board of Schooling in Might 2019.
Pamela Pugh, president of the board, stated in a press release Rice is dedicated to “placing kids first.”
“Even in moments of disagreement, his give attention to what was greatest for college students by no means wavered,” she stated.
Pugh cited the state’s highest recorded four-year commencement of 82.8% in 2024, measures to rectify the continuing educator scarcity, enlargement of profession and technical schooling, and expanded faculty psychological well being companies, among the many outcomes Rice helped the state attain.
In current months, Rice was outspoken about faculty leaders’ obligations to implement authorized protections for LGBTQ+ college students, in addition to the state’s persevering with efforts to make curriculum mirror numerous views beneath the Trump administration.
However beneath Rice, Michigan public colleges did face rising criticism, together with from Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, due to weak scholar efficiency on state and nationwide exams.
Whitmer’s workplace didn’t instantly reply to a request for touch upon Rice’s departure.
Rice defended the division’s document throughout a contentious Home Appropriations subcommittee assembly final month.
“How will we hold going the improper approach and you continue to have a job?” stated Rep. Timmy Beson, a Republican, throughout the listening to.
Rice stated in response that “based mostly on various metrics, we’re getting in the fitting approach,” citing rising commencement charges and the elevated variety of college students getting into postsecondary schooling.
Republican members of the State Board of Schooling final yr criticized Rice’s public silence on the U.S. Division of Schooling’s Workplace for Civil Rights investigation of the state schooling division, which stemmed from allegations that the division violated the rights of scholars with disabilities throughout COVID-era faculty closures.
The state has denied any wrongdoing within the case, which is ongoing.
“I count on to return to working eye degree with kids, work that I’ve missed enormously these final six years and to which I look ahead,” he stated.
Earlier than working on the state schooling division, Rice was superintendent of Kalamazoo Public Faculties for 12 years and in Clifton, New Jersey for 5.
Rice started his profession in schooling educating French in District of Columbia Public Faculties.
He graduated from Yale College with a bachelor’s diploma in psychology, and graduated from New York College with a grasp’s diploma and a doctoral diploma in public administration.
Hannah Dellinger covers Ok-12 schooling and state schooling coverage for Chalkbeat Detroit. You may attain her at hdellinger@chalkbeat.org.