Whitmer appoints Jaleelah Ahmed, Amal Berry to Mid East affairs commission
Photos: The Arab American News/Crains DetroitLANSING – On Wednesday, Michigan Governor Whitmer announced five appointments to the Commission on Middle Eastern American Affairs. “We are very excited to welcome Jaleelah Ahmed and Amal Berry to the commission,” said Commission Chair Manal Saab. Berry is also a member of the American Arab Chamber of Commerce. “I’m honored and humbled to be appointed by Governor Whitmer to the Middle Eastern American Affairs Commission,” said Berry. They also work to empower, promote, and advance the Middle Eastern American community in Michigan.
arabamericannews.comHamtramck Public Schools to host free COVID-19 vaccine clinic
Photo: Hassan Abbas/The Arab American NewsHAMTRAMCK – Hamtramck Public Schools (HPS) is partnering with Rite Aid to provide vaccinations for individuals 12 and older at the Hamtramck Community Center at 11350 Charest St. this upcoming Thursday. HPS recommends families schedule an appointment to receive a COVID-19 shot. Location: Hamtramck Community Center, 11350 Charest St. Hamtramck, 48212To schedule an appointment, visit: bit.ly/3fmBbea. “At Hamtramck Public schools, the safety and well-being of our school community remains a primary concern. “We are excited to expand our partnerships with organizations supporting Hamtramck Public Schools,” said Jaleelah Ahmed, superintendent.
arabamericannews.comHigh-poverty schools start to reckon with unprecedented federal funding heading their way
While the average school district will take in less than $4,000 per student, schools in New York City will get about $6,500. And Detroit, one of the poorest cities in the country, will receive more than $23,000 per student for its school district. But a Chalkbeat analysis in a number of states shows that high-poverty school districts will typically get several times more than their wealthy counterparts. The reason high-poverty schools are winning out is because of the way the legislation requires the funds to be distributed. But Birks is also hoping to make the case that the financially distressed school district can spend a large infusion of funding wisely.
chalkbeat.orgMichigan asking feds to cancel standardized tests after year of inconsistent education
Ahmed is among Michigan school leaders and parents advocating for the state’s standardized tests to be canceled this year. “I don’t feel that (standardized assessments) will provide a true reflection of where students are or their learning loss.”The Michigan Department of Education wants to cancel the annual, federally mandated state tests. She said canceling standardized testing will jeopardize future efforts to catch K-12 students up after the pandemic. The Michigan Education Association (MEA) is encouraging the U.S. Department of Education to grant the waiver request. Bay City uses Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) assessments throughout the year to gauge performance, as do many other Michigan schools.
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