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Hi, I’m Lori Higgins for Chalkbeat Detroit, here with your morning roundup of education news.

An increase in parent complaints about issues with their children’s schools and conflicts with staff in recent years prompted the Detroit school district to create an office to resolve the disputes, Hannah reports. In the year since the Family, Advocacy, Intervention, and Restoration office was created, it has resolved nearly 100 issues. One of the office’s main priorities is a key one: To keep students enrolled in the district.

Read Hannah’s story to learn more.

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Local News

Detroit school district opens office to handle parent complaints and mediate school conflicts

DPSCD Superintendent Nikolai Vitti said coaches help parents express concerns in ways that “that avoid threats.” Coaches use restorative practices to de-escalate parent conflicts.

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What We’re Reading

Survey of Michigan teachers raises alarm over increasing bad behavior, Detroit Free Press (Paywall)

Jocelyn Benson wants to raise Michigan teacher pay. Union isn’t sold on plan, Bridge Michigan

Michigan awards nearly $10 million to support new teachers, administrators, WILX

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Cynthia Carbone11 hours ago

DPSCD has created an avenue for parents to solve conflicts through DPSCD. Sounds like a conflict of interest. Just like DPSCD police themselves, now they are resolving conflicts within their district quietly. As a former teacher in DPSCD, I know they sweep things under the rug, make the complainant feel they did something and are shady when it comes to resolving conflict. They also protect the 'chosen' people of the district! Beware

DPSCD's approach to de-escalating parent conflicts and addressing complaints