AI and Beyond: Data, Policy, and Practice in Education

Join colleagues from across Michigan for two days of learning, discussion, and networking. This year’s conference will feature sessions on artificial intelligence in education, school finance, policy and advocacy, MI School Data tools, and assessment and accountability. Presenters include experts from state agencies, universities, intermediate school districts, and education organizations across Michigan.

Additional session details will be released in the coming weeks.

Register Today to secure your spot! Early Bird pricing ends on October 25.

We look forward to welcoming you to two days of insightful discussions and collaborative learning. Or register to attend just one day as your schedule allows.

Continental breakfast, lunch, and afternoon snacks are provided each day.

Room reservations:

The Bavarian Inn Restaurant and Lodge offers MERA guests discounted room rates. Please call 855-652-7200 and provide discount code 13X9KA to receive $125 standard double, $135 queens or king, or $205 for suites. The Bavarian Inn Lodge will apply a $34.95 daily resort fee to all reservations which includes entrance to their newest attraction, Bavarian Blast Waterpark, the largest indoor water park in Michigan.

Info: Michigan Virtual's Karle Delo, AI Strategist, and Nikolas McGehee, Senior Research & Innovation Specialist, will lead this workshop that is designed for MERA members who are experienced in educational research and evaluation and want to explore how generative AI can support the full cycle of using data to solve problems. This workshop aligns to MERA’s emphasis on accuracy, ethics, and evidence-based improvement, while introducing AI tools as productivity aids, not replacements, for human judgment.

Info: Aman Yadav, Michigan State University, discusses how generative AI tools—such as large language models and image generators—are rapidly reshaping the educational landscape, offering unprecedented opportunities for teaching, learning, and creativity. Yet alongside their promise lies a spectrum of risks and harms that educators must not overlook. This talk examines how biases, misinformation, data privacy issues, intellectual property concerns, and inequitable access can affect both students and teachers when generative AI is integrated into classrooms. The talk will focus on rethinking the goals and motivation behind the push for generative AI in education and how to cultivate critical AI literacy in educational contexts.

Info: Recently, state politicians and the media have asserted that Michigan’s schools are now funded at “historic” levels. Tanner Delpier, Labor Economist at Michigan Education Association, uses state data to examine that claim.

Info: Jack Haas and LeeAnn Connelly, MDE's Center for Educational Information and Performance Experts, dive into the suite of customizable reporting tools MI School Data has introduced in recent years. In this session, they will share the latest updates to these tools and provide a preview of what’s next in our ongoing modernization efforts. Attendees will also get a look at the newly enhanced Help and Support pages, with time set aside for live demonstrations.

Info: Dan Behm, Executive Director, Education Advocates of West Michigan, Michael Latvis, Senior Executive Director of Legislative Affairs, Wayne RESA, and David Randels, Executive Director of Government Relations, Education Policy and Research at Oakland Schools panelists will explore the current dynamics in Lansing and Washington, sharing insights into how today’s decisions in the state legislature and Congress will shape the year ahead. With Michigan voters set to elect leaders from the top of the ticket down in 2026, education will remain at the forefront of policy discussions. Panelists will field questions from MERA conference participants, offering forward-looking perspectives on where things may be headed and how schools and communities can prepare.

Info: Chris Janzer, Assistant Director, MDE Office of Accountability, Andrew Middlestead, Director, Office of Educational Assessment & Accountability, and Abigail Bies, MDE Data Analysist, will provide reflections and updates to Michigan’s assessment and accountability programs. They will also share a more detailed analysis of assessment or accountability-related results

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Bavarian Inn Lodge, 1 Covered Bridge Lane, Frankenmuth, United States