BLACK mobile logo

detroit

education

Who are the Michigan State Board of Education candidates? What to know.

October 1, 2026

Michigan voters will elect two members to the eight-member State Board of Education, which could shift the current 6-2 Democratic majority to a 4-4 party split if both Republican challengers defeat Democratic incumbents. The board oversees Michigan's 1. 4 million public school students by setting education policy, hiring the state superintendent, and coordinating statewide educational planning, though it cannot control budgets or pass laws.

Who is affected

  • Michigan's 1.4 million public school students
  • The eight-member State Board of Education (currently six Democrats and two Republicans)
  • Two Democratic incumbents running for re-election (Tiffany Tilley and Judith Pritchett)
  • Two Republican challengers (Terence Collins and Bree Moeggenberg)
  • 226,800 students receiving special education services
  • State Superintendent Glenn Maleyko
  • Teachers and paraprofessionals working in Michigan schools
  • Parents of school-age children
  • School districts including Detroit, Pontiac, and Flint

What action is being taken

  • The State Board of Education meets monthly to discuss public education
  • The state is offering grants for districts to purchase new reading curricula
  • A bipartisan special education committee has been established to strengthen services for students with disabilities
  • The Michigan Department of Education recently brought in a new deputy superintendent overseeing special education
  • School districts receiving state funding must either select "evidence-based" reading curricula from a vetted list or notify parents why they have not done so
  • The US Department of Justice is investigating whether three Michigan districts were teaching students about sexual orientation and gender identity

Why it matters

  • The election outcome will determine whether Democrats maintain control of the State Board of Education or whether the board splits evenly along party lines, which could create gridlock on policy decisions. With Michigan reaching new lows in third-grade reading proficiency, the board's direction on literacy initiatives, special education reform, and controversial health education standards will significantly impact how 1.4 million public school students are educated. The composition of the board also affects the support and oversight given to State Superintendent Glenn Maleyko, whose leadership and policy priorities receive sharply divided opinions along party lines. A 4-4 split could make it substantially harder to pass resolutions and implement educational reforms during a critical period when the state is attempting to address declining academic performance.

What's next

  • Starting next school year, districts must screen students for signs of dyslexia
  • By the 2031 school year, elementary teachers will be required to complete "science of reading" training
  • State Superintendent Glenn Maleyko's contract continues until December 2029

Read full article from source: bridgedetroit.com