Marygrove Learning Community models success at 2026 Mackinac Policy Conference
Elizabeth Birr Moje joined fellow panelists Jeff Donofrio, President and Chief Executive Officer, Business Leaders For Michigan, and Nikolai Vitti, Superintendent, Detroit Public Schools Community District, for a session at the 2026 Mackinac Policy Conference exploring how place-based, cross-sector partnerships can drive educational transformation in Michigan. Rip Rapson, President and Chief Executive Officer, The Kresge Foundation, moderated the conversation.
Using the Marygrove Learning Community in Detroit as a successful model, the speakers described the campus’s "cradle-to-career" ecosystem—integrating early childhood education through high school and beyond. Since 2019, the public school located within the community has achieved academic outcomes comparable to top district high schools, with elementary literacy and science scores on par with peer districts like Royal Oak and Ann Arbor.
Moje explained how how the University of Michigan designed and implemented a new model for the preparation and retention of teachers: a “Teaching School,” similar to a teaching hospital, to provide hands-on training for educators, resulting in higher teacher retention rates
The panelists presented a strong case for the need for alignment between state government, local districts, and private partners if Michigan is to return to a top-10 education state. They advocated for equitable funding, rigorous accountability, and a consistent, long-term strategy for education reform that survives political transitions.
In addition to participating in the panel, Moje also met with a range of Michigan state and federal policymakers, engaging in informational sessions about education reform and in particular the focus on literacy curricula.