Research
New from Launch Michigan
Launch Michigan White Paper
Why Michigan Needs the Michigan Education Guarantee: An Evidence-Based Approach
March 17, 2026 - The Michigan Education Guarantee (MEG) promises every Michigan student will graduate with the skills needed for life and work success.
MEG focuses on foundational academic skills and core skills, including career preparation, digital literacy, and financial knowledge. Students connect learning to real careers through hands-on projects, internships, and various programs, making education more meaningful and helping them discover their strengths.
STRONG Educators. Stronger Students.
Envisioning an Improved Education System for Michigan
March 30, 2026 - In autumn 2025, Launch Michigan reconvened the teacher-focused roundtable to further strategize and identify recommendations for strengthening the Michigan teacher pipeline. The roundtable conducted four meetings to review current research and best practices in Michigan and around the country. The result was an evidence-based framework, STRONG, that focused on two elements of the pipeline: teacher workforce recruitment and retention strategies.
Research Roundup Webinar: Why Michigan Needs the Michigan Education Guarantee
March 17, 2026 - Launch Michigan held a webinar to share the evidence base for the Michigan Education Guarantee and the data supporting it as a systemic solution to Michigan’s education challenges.
Watch below!
Read More from Launch Michigan
Federal Funding Scenario Planning Playbook
December 2025 - This version reflects the most recent developments at the federal level and synthesizes the collective input of advocates, district and ISD leaders, policy experts, and partners across the state. With Congress still debating key components of the FY 2026 education budget—and the potential for continued volatility—our goal is to provide Michigan leaders with a clear, values-driven framework to navigate uncertainty and protect the students and communities most at risk.
The playbook offers:
High-level guidance on Michigan’s policy levers and the decisions that may be required as federal programs are consolidated, reduced, or reshaped.
Targeted tactical recommendations across major program areas—including Title programs, early childhood funding, educator support, IDEA, Medicaid, and SNAP—to help state and local leaders prepare for multiple potential scenarios.
A three-year trajectory for mitigating harm now, planning thoughtfully for FY 2027, and positioning Michigan for long-term stability and success.
Strengthening the Educator Pipeline: Recommendations for Investing in Michigan’s Educator Workforce
April 2025 - Educator staffing issues have been a long-term issue in Michigan and nationwide before COVID-19, but were intensified by the pandemic. Over the last three budget cycles, Michigan invested over $1.1 billion—a significant investment—to address these persistent educator staffing problems. This funding has supported a variety of initiatives of varying sizes to attract talent, support professional development, and create sustainable career paths across the educator continuum.
Michigan is at an inflection point. Are these investments working? As the state looks to a new budget cycle, key recommendations need to be made about how to optimize current and future resources.
Long-term efforts require long-term solutions. In October 2024, Senator Camilleri, Chairman of the PreK-12 School Aid Budget, requested investment and policy recommendations from Launch Michigan. As a cross-partisan nonprofit organization led by an experienced Michigan education leader, Launch Michigan is uniquely positioned to critically evaluate and help guide the state to a more cohesive vision for the future. Senator Camilleri also encouraged Launch Michigan to convene an Educator Roundtable of experts to provide input into this work. In response to Senator Camilleri’s request, Launch Michigan prepared this report and sought advice from the Educator Roundtable to envision a blueprint for the opportunities to come.
Surveys from Launch Michigan
2021 Michigan Statewide Voter Education Survey
As new backpacks are stuffed with fresh notebooks and pencils, and teachers prep their classrooms for the return of students, a 2021 public opinion survey shows that many voters lack confidence in K–12 quality and funding.
The statewide survey of 600 voters commissioned by Launch Michigan shows that 54 percent of voters approve of Michigan’s current public education system, while 27 percent disapprove.
Nearly two-thirds of respondents in the survey believe the lack of classroom funding is impacting quality, with only 25 percent of voters saying Michigan public schools have enough money, and 65 percent saying they need more funding. The most overwhelming support on the survey was for increased funding for students with extra learning needs, with 90 percent approving of additional money for students who are experiencing disability, language skills, or poverty.
2021 Michigan Educator Survey
With educator shortages crippling the state’s K–12 workforce and impacting learning opportunities for students, Launch Michigan has gathered input from the state’s teachers and building-level administrators with an eye toward understanding the issues at play.
In 2021, Launch Michigan contracted with Emma White Research to survey public school educators in May, uncovering many of the policy and funding levers that can help reverse these trends and strengthen the state’s public schools—and, ultimately, the state’s economy.