Thanks to Michigan Teachers and Michigan Parents 

Thursday we celebrated the 3^rd anniversary of the Michigan Learning Channel and share our 2023 Success Report.

Built by Michigan’s great public television stations, in partnership with educators across our state, the MLC is evolving into a robust educational platform and engagement tool available at no cost to every family, school, and organization in our state.

We wanted to share with you our 2023 report (attached) and the outline below from our leader, Dr. Omar Hakim. 

Thank you to all of our educators, parents, partners and to our state’s leadership for your support.  Together, we are building Michigan’s future leaders by investing in innovative education partnerships like the Michigan Learning Channel that have us all working hand-in-hand to support every learner across our state. 

Celebrating Three Years of the Michigan Learning Channel (MLC): Achievements, Future Plans, and Collaborative Partnerships – From Dr. Omar Hakim

As the Michigan Learning Channel (MLC) marks its third anniversary, we want to celebrate the notable achievements of this innovative public media and education partnership that is uplifting learners, educators, and families across the state of Michigan. With a focus on family, educator, & youth engagement and innovative new content, the MLC has achieved significant milestones and is positioned for even greater impact in the years to come.

MLC Points of Pride

The MLC's journey over the past three years has been marked by several noteworthy accomplishments:

1. Summer Reading Success

Over 100 school districts across Michigan actively participated in the MLC's summer reading initiative, emphasizing the importance of ongoing summer literacy learning to help build, extend, and refine literacy skills acquired through the academic school year. Ensuring families have access to high-quality, standards-aligned resources.

2. Extensive Reach

The MLC has become a vital resource, reaching nearly 500,000 students and family members each month. This broad audience reflects the channel's ability to connect with diverse communities across the state.

3. Educator Engagement

In 2023, the MLC directly interacted with over 11,000 educators, fostering a dynamic exchange of ideas and resources to enhance teaching practices. 

4.   Career Preparation & Engagement 

MLC’s “Future of Work” programming offers career exploration programs and makes young people and their families aware of opportunities and career pathways available in Michigan. 

5. Expanded Literacy Resources & Statewide Engagement 

The MLC's commitment to literacy is evident in the expansion of its "Read, Write, ROAR!" series, a series featuring Michigan educators, developed with literacy experts well-versed in best literacy research practices and Michigan content standards. By June, a 4th and 5th grade program will complement the existing Pre-K-3rd grade “Read, Write, Roar” offerings. The MLC has helped bring Statewide engagement programs like the Learn Everywhere Challenge encouraging families, schools, and community organizations to explore literacy and learning together. 

6. Professional Learning Impact

The MLC, in collaboration with the Michigan Association of Intermediate School Administrators (MAISA) and the Michigan Association of Elementary and Middle School Principals (MEMSPA), has conducted Professional Learning sessions, involving nearly 2,000 educators. Additionally, 40,000 early literacy books have been distributed to families to further support learning beyond the classroom.

7. National Recognition

The MLC has gained recognition beyond Michigan, serving as a national model for innovative partnerships between education and public media. Its programming has reached audiences in Tennessee, Indiana, and Illinois, and has been featured at national conferences including the School Superintendents Association (AASA), National Educational Television Association (NETA), and International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE)

Forging Ahead with Statewide Partners

By continuing to build capacity through local and statewide community partnerships, the MLC will continue to offer innovative standards-aligned educational content and engagement opportunities, supporting schools, families, and communities across the state with resources spanning from early childhood, K-12, and career preparation. The focus is on connecting experts, parents, caregivers, students, and community members to break through barriers hindering effective collaboration and capacity building. The MLC emphasizes the importance of not only leveraging existing resources but also actively building tools, resources, and opportunities in partnership with those engaged with the work. 

MAISA, the Michigan Association of Intermediate School Administrators, plays a pivotal role in the Michigan Learning Channel’s literacy initiatives. Instrumental in co-developing the "Read, Write, ROAR!" series aligned with Literacy Essentials, MAISA currently supports a full-time MLC literacy expert to implement the program in Intermediate School Districts through professional development, preschool partnerships, and family engagement. State 35a funding is utilized by MAISA and MEMSPA, the Michigan Association of Elementary and Middle School Principals, to bolster professional learning opportunities for Michigan school leaders. Furthermore, MAISA extends its support through various channels, including ISD networks, district administrators, literacy coaching networks, and educator professional development.

Dr. John Severson, Executive Director of MAISA, expresses enthusiasm for the ongoing partnership: “I am thrilled to be re-engaging in our partnership work with the Michigan Learning Channel (MLC). As an educational partner with the MLC, we provide equitable access to children, families, caretakers, and educators, elevating no-cost high-quality literacy content and resources grounded in research and aligned to Michigan’s standards. We look forward to bringing our Literacy Essentials to educators, administrators, children, and families with our trusted MLC partners."

Paul Liabenow, Executive Director of MEMSPA, echoes this sentiment: “On behalf of elementary and middle school principals across the state of Michigan, I am incredibly excited about partnering with the Michigan Learning Channel to support our students, their families, and educators across the state. Our partnership is about expanding access to innovative, high-quality resources in and outside of the classroom. We applaud our PBS Michigan Learning Channel public media stations for partnering with us to support Michigan learners, families, and educators.”

As the Michigan Learning Channel embarks on its fourth year, the collective dedication of educators, families, and partners promises to ignite a passion for education across the state. The MLC celebrates its accomplishments and invites you to imagine the possibilities of our continued partnership and its impact on learners across the state of Michigan. 

Thanks, again, to our incredible partners.  We look forward to all that we can do going forward.

Happy New Year!

Rich Homberg

President and CEO - Detroit Public Television