Danielle James

Grand Rapids

Education and Government Reporter at MLive

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Articles

Michigan had 35,495 homeless students last year. See the numbers, by district

1 week ago | mlive.com | Danielle James |Scott Levin

Detroit Public Schools Community District reported 3,182 students as homeless last year, according to 2023-24 data from the Michigan Department of Education (MDE). Of the Wayne County school district’s 48,476 students, 6.6% experienced homelessness, according to MDE’s Center for Educational Performance and Information (CEPI). Statewide, Michigan had 35,495 homeless students during the 2023-24 school year, out of the 1,429,895 students counted by the state. That’s about 2.5% of all students.
See the top 10 college destinations for seniors in Grand Rapids Public Schools

1 week ago | mlive.com | Danielle James |Scott Levin

GRAND RAPIDS, MI - An overwhelming majority of college-bound high schoolers graduating from Grand Rapids Public Schools (GRPS) went to one popular college destination last year. Grand Rapids Community College (GRCC) was the top choice for over half of GRPS students who graduated high school in 2024. The West Michigan community college received 48% of the 397 graduates from GRPS schools who enrolled in higher education in 2024, according to recent college destination data released by the state.
Ottawa Hills High School celebrates 75 graduates at 2025 commencement

2 weeks ago | mlive.com | Isaac Ritchey |Danielle James

GRAND RAPIDS, MI - Ottawa Hills High School was filled with roaring cheers and heartfelt support on Wednesday, May 21 as students, families and teachers celebrated the Class of 2025’s graduation. Around 75 Ottawa Hills seniors walked across the stage in their black caps and gowns, celebrating a major milestone in earning their high school diplomas.
Are you affected by student loan collections resuming? We want to talk to you.

3 weeks ago | mlive.com | Danielle James

The U.S. Department of Education is resuming collections on defaulted federal student loans, which also could lead to garnishing wages for those in default. President Donald Trump’s plan comes after years of former President Joe Biden saying he would forgive student loans on a widespread basis, which didn’t happen. Do you have outstanding student loans and want to share your story? We want to interview you.
Godfrey-Lee Public Schools closes after community-wide power outage

3 weeks ago | mlive.com | Danielle James

WYOMING, MI - Godfrey-Lee Public Schools closed down its campus Wednesday, May 14, dismissing students from all buildings at 9:30 a.m. after the school district and surrounding community lost power. A crash on Grand Rapids’ Southwest side caused around 2,100 Consumers Energy customers to lose power on Wednesday morning. It took down power lines and a utility pole, causing widespread outages.
Trump says $600B Saudi Arabia investment deal will include Michigan spending

3 weeks ago | mlive.com | Danielle James

President Donald Trump on Tuesday, May 13 announced a $600 billion “strategic partnership” with Saudi Arabia to invest in the United States, part of a series of what he called “transformative deals secured in Saudi Arabia.” Those deals include a $5.8 billion investment by a healthcare company, Shamekh IV Solutions, that Trump said will spend a portion in Michigan. It’s not yet clear how much of the $5.8 billion is planned for the state. Not much information is available about the company online.
Grand Rapids teacher publicly resigns, calling out burnout, understaffing

3 weeks ago | mlive.com | Danielle James

GRAND RAPIDS, MI - Malori Salamango won’t be in the classroom next year, at least not one at Grand Rapids Public Schools, after she resigned publicly at a Monday, May 12 Board of Education meeting. “Putting all the pressure on teachers is how islands are created,” she said. “That’s how you isolate teachers, burn them out.
Grand Rapids teachers’ union protests low pay amid calls for 7.5% raise

3 weeks ago | mlive.com | Danielle James

GRAND RAPIDS, MI — Katy Teeter said she took a cut to her take-home pay this year to keep teaching in her West Michigan district. “Healthcare went up, and I make less every two weeks than I did last year, even though we had a (pay) increase of some sort,” said Teeter, a 5th-grade teacher for Grand Rapids Public Schools. “I’m not the only one,” she said. Teeter spoke with MLive/The Grand Rapids Press during a protest held by the Grand Rapids Education Association, the teachers’ union for GRPS.
Who’s behind 21 Michigan billboards criticizing Trump’s national parks cuts?

3 weeks ago | mlive.com | Danielle James

Leaving downtown Grand Rapids and taking the highway south, a billboard comes into view. “Greetings from Cuyahoga Valley National Park … now with reduced staff.” The billboard references a national park in nearby Ohio. It’s meant to send a message about the possible consequences of federal firings and cuts at national parks across the country, according to the advocacy group that put it up.
MLive answers reader questions about Christopher Schurr’s murder case

3 weeks ago | mlive.com | Danielle James |Bradley Massman

GRAND RAPIDS, MI - We asked for reader questions coming off the high-profile Christopher Schurr murder trial, and you responded. MLive picked some of the more interesting reader questions about the case. MLive journalists are providing answers to those questions, and they are below. If you have a question of your own, share it here.