News from MiPASS — because our kids deserve better, safer, and healthier schools. |
In this Issue: - A Message from the Board
- Dept. of Education Updates
- Helpful News Sources
- Public Health Updates
- Take Action Now!
- RALLY: April 26: People for Public Education
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“Being subjected to ableism and eugenic ideologies destroys families. Not Autism.” |
This image, and the truth it speaks, responds directly to the dangerous, dehumanizing rhetoric from RFK Jr. At MiPASS, we will not stay silent. His statements are part of a broader assault on disability rights, public education, and truth itself. We see the signs: from underfunding special education services to reviving eugenic narratives that have historically harmed marginalized communities. And we know that families across Michigan are feeling the weight of it all. Too many parents are already fighting uphill battles—advocating for evaluations, diagnoses, and support services their children deserve. Now, they do so while carrying fear: fear of what the next wave of policy or rhetoric might bring. We want every family to know: You are not alone. We see you. We support you. And we stand with you. Last week, we shared the powerful words of Molly Corombos, a mother who bravely responded to RFK Jr.’s ableist press conference with love, clarity, and truth. Her story resonated deeply—and we invite you to read it: 👉 Read and share the post on Facebook You can also raise your own voice by sharing your experience: 👉 Autism Stories Deserve to Be Heard Let’s make one thing clear: No one speaks for us—without us. In solidarity,
The MiPASS Board |
As elected school board members and leaders entrusted with shaping the future of our nation, we write to urge you to protect the US Department of Education (DOE) from any proposals to eliminate or weaken it. The DOE’s vital role in advancing educational equity, supporting state and local education systems, and ensuring the civil rights of all students cannot be overstated. Its closure would have devastating consequences for millions of students, educators, and families across Michigan and the United States. Our kids all deserve the opportunity to learn and grow, regardless of where they come from. This is why parents, teachers, and school board members across Michigan and the country are working together to ensure that every child gets a quality public education that allows them to reach their full potential, no matter their race or background. The DOE is vital to ensuring that our country’s vision for public education remains a priority. |
U.S. Department of Education to Begin Federal Student Loan Collections, Other Actions to Help Borrowers Get Back into Repayment   |
The U.S. Department of Education today announced its Office of Federal Student Aid (FSA) will resume collections of its defaulted federal student loan portfolio on Monday, May 5th. The Department has not collected on defaulted loans since March 2020. Resuming collections protects taxpayers from shouldering the cost of federal student loans that borrowers willingly undertook to finance their postsecondary education. This initiative will be paired with a comprehensive communications and outreach campaign to ensure borrowers understand how to return to repayment or get out of default. While Congress mandated that student and parent borrowers begin to repay their student loans in October 2023, the Biden-Harris Administration refused to lift the collections pause and kept borrowers in a confusing limbo. The previous Administration failed to process applications for borrowers who applied for income-driven repayment and continued to push misguided “on-ramps” and illegal loan forgiveness schemes to win points with borrowers and mask rising delinquency and default rates. READ MORE HERE: |
  Research on Hold
Funding freeze halts Harvard projects overnight.
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Hours after the federal government froze $2.2 billion in research funding at Harvard, scientists across the University received sudden stop-work orders—halting projects on radiation exposure, ALS diagnostics, and tuberculosis treatment. The notices came less than a day after Harvard refused to comply with federal demands related to its internal governance. The stop-work orders are already reshaping University research: labs are scrambling to secure emergency funding, pausing work, and bracing for layoffs. Among the first to be affected was Given professor of immunology and infectious diseases Sarah Fortune, who studies tuberculosis. She leads what she calls a “TB moonshot”—a $60-million National Institutes of Health-backed initiative involving Harvard and other institutions to understand immunity to tuberculosis, the world’s leading cause of death from a single infectious agent. “It’s unbelievable, this group of people that have come together to work on this problem,” Fortune said. But without funding, that work can’t continue. READ MORE HERE: |
Michigan now has a measles outbreak in Montcalm County, the Mid-Michigan District Health Department told the Detroit Free Press. Brady Guilbault, the department’s public information officer, confirmed April 17 that two additional measles cases have been identified that are tied to an infection initially reported April 9 in a Montcalm County resident who traveled out of state. The department issued an alert to local health care providers, but had not made public notification of the outbreak as of early Thursday afternoon. More than an hour after the Free Press reported the outbreak, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, in conjunction with the Mid-Michigan District Health Department, issued a news release publicly announcing it. READ MORE HERE: |
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Just three and half months into 2025, the United States recorded the most measles cases in a single year since a 2019 wave, and the number continues to grow, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data shows. The majority of the infections have been reported in an outbreak in West Texas that has led to the deaths of two children. The number of cases in Texas alone has grown to more than 600, while cases nationwide have hit 800, with infections confirmed in at least 24 states. Measles is one of the most contagious infectious diseases, and in some cases can cause severe infections in the lungs and brain that can lead to cognitive issues, deafness or death. But doctors and health officials say the vaccine, which is normally given as part of the combination measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, is highly safe and effective. READ MORE HERE: 
Rally for Public Education📅 Date: Friday, April 26
⏰ Time: 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM
📍 Location: Michigan Capitol, Lansing Join advocates from across the state to stand in solidarity for public education. Bring your signs, your voice, and your passion—let’s rally for our kids and the future of our schools! |
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If you would like to help support our work, please feel free to make a donation. Your contribution will go a long way in helping MiPASS continue our mission to foster a safe and inclusive learning environment for all ALL Michigan students and teachers. |
Paid for by Michigan Parent Alliance for Safe Schools Michigan Parent Alliance for Safe Schools (MiPASS) P.O. Box 464 Jackson, MI 49204 Visit us at: www.mipass.org |
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