Big decisions about education often happen far from the classroom—but the voices shaping those conversations matter.
Recently, school district leaders from Clinton, Eaton, Ingham, and Shiawassee Counties gathered as part of the CARES Collaborative to meet with legislative officials and discuss education priorities, school funding, and the importance of completing Michigan’s state budget by July 1.
The gathering provided an opportunity for local education leaders to share ideas, discuss challenges, and advocate for the resources schools need to best support students, staff, and communities.
The CARES Collaborative—short for Capital Area Regional Education Strategy—was created through a partnership between four regional education service agencies: Clinton County RESA, Eaton RESA, Ingham Intermediate School District, and Shiawassee Regional Education Service District. The collaborative is designed to strengthen the collective voice of public education across the Capital Area by improving coordination and engagement with state and federal policymakers.
While every district has unique needs, many educational priorities are shared—from student support services and staffing challenges to school funding and long-term planning.
By coming together regionally, leaders can better align priorities and advocate more strategically for the students and educators they serve.
Because when communities work together, schools become stronger—and stronger schools help create stronger futures for everyone.
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When school leaders work together, student voices grow stronger. Representatives from Clinton, Eaton, Ingham, and Shiawassee Counties recently gathered through the CARES Collaborative to meet with legislative officials and discuss education priorities, school funding, and the future of public education across the region. The CARES Collaborative—Capital Area Regional Education Strategy—was formed to strengthen regional advocacy efforts and ensure schools have a stronger, more unified voice in policy conversations.
Government can feel distant when you only read about it in textbooks. But for students in Spartan Project SEARCH, a recent visit to the Michigan Capitol turned civic learning into a real-world experience. From meeting with State Senator Sarah Anthony to observing activity inside the Senate chamber, students gained a firsthand look at the many people and moving parts that help serve communities across Michigan.
