West Michigan Policy Forum

08/10/2026

Michigan is one of only 19 states that hasn't opted into the federal Scholarship Tax Credit. That means 90% of kids in other states have access to education options, like tutoring, scholarships, and individualized learning, that Michigan kids don't.

It costs taxpayers nothing. It doesn't touch the School Aid Fund. It just requires the Governor's signature.

Colorado's governor signed on. New York's governor pledged to. Michigan's kids are still waiting.

Read why Gov. Whitmer should opt in now:
https://bit.ly/3TFnbV1

Each child is unique. Every Michigan kid needs an education environment that works for them. The West Michigan Policy Forum has long called for unique, individualized solutions for kids as a core part of any serious reform agenda, alongside real accountability and a relentless focus on literacy. The...

07/31/2026

Only 1 in 4 eligible voters turn out for primaries. Meanwhile, Michigan's income ranking has dropped to 40th worst in the nation, and our kids rank 44th worst for reading.

Before you vote on or before August 4th, research where candidates stand on reading reform, right to work, the MEDC, and affordable energy.

Michigan deserves better rankings. It starts with better turnout.

07/30/2026

Michigan ranks 44th in the nation for 4th grade reading. Mississippi went from 49th to 9th in just eleven years by committing to five research-backed literacy reforms.

This week, WDIV Local 4 / ClickOnDetroit asked Michigan's gubernatorial candidates where they stand on the two reforms still missing: literacy-based promotion and A-F school accountability grading.

WMPF Board Chair John Kennedy put it plainly: "This isn't about what our kids are capable of. It's about whether Lansing gives them the accountability and support to get there. We won't accomplish what Mississippi did with three-fifths of the solution.”

Read the full story:
https://bit.ly/4yG6SHk

With Michigan’s Aug. 4 gubernatorial primary approaching, a statewide policy group is pressing candidates to support two additional literacy reforms after lawmakers approved funding for three others in this year’s state budget.

07/22/2026

Michigan just added $502 million more to education spending. Total increase since 2018: nearly $7 billion.

So why is literacy getting worse, not better?

Mississippi found the answer. We break it down.

07/17/2026

What does a fiscally responsible budget actually look like?

No tax hikes. No dipping into savings. Pension liabilities fully funded. Pork spending cut from nearly $1 billion to $125 million. This is what it looks like when leaders hold the line.

The path is clear. The question is whether our leaders stay on it, including finishing the job on literacy-based promotion.

Watch WMPF's latest video on the state budget and why fiscal responsibility matters for Michigan's future.

07/17/2026

John Kennedy, WMPF Board Chair and President & CEO of Autocam Medical, joined a Crain's Detroit panel this week alongside philanthropy and K-12 leaders to talk about what's driving, and holding back, student outcomes in Michigan.

The conversation centered on three areas: literacy, career tech education, and weighted school funding. John's message was direct: a skilled workforce starts with educated students, and educated students start with reading. He pointed to third-grade reading and early childhood literacy as the leverage point — and laid out the five pillars of the Science of Reading, urging schools to commit to them with fidelity, not just in name.

Michigan currently ranks 44th in the nation in 4th-grade reading. That's not where a competitive state can afford to sit.

Thank you to KC Crain, Crain Communications, and Crain's Detroit Business for convening this important conversation. Michigan's kids deserve a state that treats literacy like the economic issue it is.

07/04/2026

"We the people" is not a passive statement.

250 years after the founding of America, our system of self-governance still depends on citizens who engage, who advocate, and who refuse to sit on the sidelines.

This Fourth of July, take a moment to reflect. Then rededicate.

Happy Independence Day from West Michigan Policy Forum's CEO Jase Bolger. Thank you for showing up! 🇺🇸

06/25/2026

Michigan is among the ten worst states for personal income and outbound migration.

Workers and families are not leaving by accident. They are leaving for Indiana, Texas, Florida, and Tennessee because those states offer more jobs and more opportunity.

Eliminating the income tax is a responsible path forward: structurally balance the budget, honor pension commitments, and hold the line on spending.

The roadmap exists. The question is whether Michigan has the discipline to follow it.

Watch WMPF CEO Jase Bolger break down the numbers and the path forward.

06/11/2026

Michigan has spent a billion dollars more on literacy. So why are kids still falling behind?

WMPF CEO Jase Bolger put it plainly in Bridge Michigan: "Spending more isn't caring more. And it's proven that it certainly isn't more effective."

Real accountability means reinstating third grade reading requirements and grading schools on an A-F scale. Not more councils. Not more campaigns. Results.

Read the full Bridge Michigan report:

As Michigan struggles with reading on national rankings, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer says the state must focus on literacy. What to know.

06/10/2026

Did you know Michigan has the highest energy costs in the Great Lakes region?

When businesses choose where to locate and create jobs, energy costs top their list. And right now, Michigan is losing that competition. If the 2023 energy mandates stay in place, our costs will only climb higher.

The good news: the Michigan House recently passed a bill to lower prices and ensure reliable energy supply. Find out how your representative voted here: https://www.michiganvotes.org/legislation/2026/house/bill-5711

Now it's time to finish the job. Contact the Governor and your state senator today. If your rep voted yes, thank them. Then urge your senator and governor to repeal the 2023 energy mandates and make Michigan competitive again.

Lower energy costs mean more jobs, more investment, and a stronger future for Michigan workers. Make your voice count.