August 18, 2025
Michigan Department of Education
608 W. Allegan Street
P.O. Box 30008
Lansing, MI 48909
Read here: 2025.0818 Autism Alliance__Imperatives for selecting the State Superintendent
RE: Imperative for the Selection of a Transformative State Superintendent
Dear Members of the Michigan State Board of Education:
On June 25, the Autism Alliance of Michigan (AAoM) shared our vision for Michigan’s next State Superintendent—a leader with the integrity, expertise, and moral courage to dismantle deeply entrenched disparities in education outcomes for our most underserved students.
With the public announcement of the seven semifinalists for this position and recent public performance data, our call for transformative leadership has become even more urgent.
The State Board now has an opportunity to appoint a leader who will not merely inherit Michigan’s systemic inequities, but who will own the responsibility for changing them.
Persistent and Unacceptable Gaps for Students with Disabilities
Recent district-level data for some of the candidates illustrate the crisis we face:
– Special education graduation rates ranging from 50% to 96%—in all but one case, falling short of the basic expectation that all students, regardless of disability, leave school with a diploma.
– Dropout rates for students with disabilities as high as 35%, more than double the state average and unacceptable by any measure.
– 4th and 8th grade math and reading proficiency well below state benchmarks for students with disabilities, in some cases in the single digits.
– Continued Office for Civil Rights investigations related to special education implementation and compliance.
These disparities are, unfortunately, not new; however, their persistence underlines the necessity of a superintendent willing to take ownership of reversing them—through accountability, urgency, and unwavering commitment to equitable outcomes.
What This Moment Requires from the SBE’s Selection
AAoM urges the State Board to evaluate finalists through the lens of these imperatives:
Proven Record of Systemic Change
Select a candidate who has not just managed a system, but fundamentally improved it—particularly for students with disabilities, English learners, and economically disadvantaged youth.
Data-Driven, Outcome-Focused Leadership
Require demonstrated success in closing achievement and graduation gaps, reducing dropout rates, and increasing literacy and numeracy outcomes for underserved populations.
Willingness to Challenge the Status Quo
Seek leaders with the resolve to confront low expectations, inconsistent compliance with IDEA, and the overuse of alternate assessments.
Capacity for Statewide Systems Leadership
Choose a leader who can move beyond local district solutions and drive statewide reform through legislative advocacy, cross-agency collaboration, and authentic engagement with families and communities.
The Cost of Getting This Wrong
Michigan has been mired in decades-long gaps between students with disabilities and their nondisabled peers. Another superintendent who maintains current trajectories will fail not only students with disabilities but the state’s broader educational goals. This decision will either accelerate Michigan’s progress toward equity and excellence, or cement its place at the bottom of national rankings for special education outcomes.
The Board’s decision in the coming weeks is one of the most consequential in the history of Michigan’s public education system.
The Autism Alliance of Michigan calls on you to appoint a leader prepared to:
– Set and meet higher expectations for ALL students.
– Ensure timely, individualized supports for every student with a disability.
– Build public trust through transparency and accountability.
– Stand firm in the face of political pressure when the needs of marginalized students are at stake.
As the Michigan State Board of Education considers semifinalists for State Superintendent, it is imperative that outcome metrics for vulnerable student populations—particularly students with disabilities—remain central to the selection process. The attached analysis underscores persistent and unacceptable gaps in graduation, dropout, literacy, and numeracy outcomes across candidate districts, with rates in some cases far below state benchmarks. These disparities are not new, but their persistence highlights the urgent need for a leader who will take ownership of reversing them through accountability, data-driven reform, and unwavering commitment to equity.
Consistent with the Autism Alliance of Michigan’s ongoing advocacy, we urge the Board to appoint a superintendent who has demonstrated the capacity to dismantle systemic inequities, raise expectations, and deliver measurable improvements for Michigan’s most underserved students.
Michigan’s next State Superintendent must be chosen for their proven ability to close persistent outcome gaps for students with disabilities and other vulnerable populations. Without data-driven, equity-focused leadership, our state risks cementing decades-long disparities in graduation, literacy, and opportunity.
AAoM stands ready to partner with the next State Superintendent in the urgent, non-negotiable work of dismantling the barriers that have denied too many Michigan students the high-quality, inclusive education they deserve.
About the Autism Alliance of Michigan
The Autism Alliance of Michigan (AAoM) is a 501(c)(3) organization serving as a trusted ally and partner for thousands of families across the state. AAoM’s mission is to lead efforts to raise expectations and expand opportunities for people connected to autism across their lifespan. The organization’s Education pillar drives initiatives that address systemic barriers to education, focuses on student-centered advocacy, and educates families on related topics – working towards its goal to make Michigan a top 10 state for special education outcomes. For help finding resources, providers, and information contact our MiNavigators at 877-463-2266 (AAOM) or email at navigator@aaomi.org. More information about AAoM’s Education pillar can be found at: https://autismallianceofmichigan.org/education-initiatives/.