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MICHIGAN EDUCATION DIGEST
August 12, 2008

Contents of this issue:
  • MME scores improve slightly in most subjects
  • Michigan residents want teacher benefit reform
  • California court overturns ruling on homeschooling
  • United Way starts program to curb dropout rates
  • State to hold hearing on special education changes
MME SCORES IMPROVE SLIGHTLY IN MOST SUBJECTS
LANSING, Mich. — Students showed slight increases in reading, writing and science scores in the second year of the Michigan Merit Exam, which includes the ACT, but more than half failed the mathematics section, according to the Detroit Free Press.

Sixty-two percent of students passed the reading section, compared to 60 percent last year. In writing, 41 percent of students passed. That is up from 40 percent last year. The passing rate on the science test also increased one percentage point, to 57 percent. Performance in math was stagnant with a 46 percent passing rate. There was a drop in performance on the social studies test; 80 percent of students passed, down from 83 percent last year, the Free Press reported.

The average composite score on the ACT remained the same, at 18.8, according to the Free Press.

"The MME, with the inclusion of the ACT, is a rigorous test and all students have to be prepared with the knowledge to excel," State Superintendent Mike Flanagan said in a statement, according to the Free Press. "As the requirements of the new high school curriculum continue to be implemented, we expect to see students' scores improve."

SOURCE:
Detroit Free Press, "State's reading scores go up, more than half fail math," Aug. 7, 2008
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080807/NEWS06/ 80807035/1008

FURTHER READING:
Michigan Education Report, "New high school graduation requirements in action," May 6, 2008
http://www.educationreport.org/9457

MICHIGAN RESIDENTS WANT TEACHER BENEFIT REFORM
DETROIT — A phone survey commissioned by Detroit Renaissance shows that Michiganders support sweeping reform to improve the state, including reforming benefits for state employees and public school teachers, according to The Detroit News.

"Hopefully, we are reaching a point where we can drive change simply by tapping into the anger of people who don't want to live like this anymore," Renaissance board Chairman David Brandon told The News. "If people don't listen to these findings, I don't know what they'll listen to."

The Michigan Priorities Survey found that about 75 percent of those polled would support increasing health care premiums for state employees. Currently, state employees pay between 5 and 10 percent of their premiums, compared to private-sector employees who usually pay between 16 and 28 percent of their own health insurance premiums, The News reported.

Additionally, about 74 percent support an overhaul of retirement benefits for teachers. Michigan teachers receive a defined pension, which requires districts to pay a specific amount each year. Citizens called for a 401(k)-type system for new teachers, according to The News.

SOURCE:
The Detroit News, "Survey: Reform state now," Aug. 7, 2008
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2008808070377

FURTHER READING:
Michigan Education Report, "Growing number of districts seek solutions to costly health insurance" Dec. 15, 2005
http://www.educationreport.org/7479

CALIFORNIA COURT OVERTURNS RULING ON HOMESCHOOLING
LOS ANGELES — A California state appellate court has ruled that parents are allowed to educate their own children, according to the Los Angeles Times.

The court previously ruled that parents could not oversee their child's education unless they had a teaching certificate. California has an estimated 166,000 home-school students. Before the previous ruling, the State Department of Education had allowed homeschooling and left enforcement of certain policies to local districts, the Times reported.

SOURCE:
Los Angeles Times, "Court says parents may operate home-schools," Aug 8, 2008
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/thehomeroom/2008/08/court-says-pare.html

FURTHER READING:
Mackinac Center for Public Policy, "Home Schooling: An 'Encouraging and Robust' Movement," May 24, 2004
http://www.mackinac.org/6653
UNITED WAY STARTS PROGRAM TO CURB DROPOUT RATES
DETROIT — The United Way of Southeastern Michigan has launched a $10 million initiative to reduce high school dropout rates for the Detroit-area, according to The Detroit News.

The fund will support efforts in high schools with dropout rates of 40 percent or higher. Schools in Detroit, Hazel Park, Lincoln Park, Melvindale, Allen Park, Pontiac, River Rouge, Ecorse, Redford, Hamtramck and Eastpointe will participate. It was triggered by a $1 million donation from AT&T Michigan, and the fund has already reached $4 million.

"We have an urgent need in Michigan, and this shows foresight and community planning along with philanthropic organizations," Detroit Superintendent Connie Calloway told The News. "We've been working together for 13 months and I think this is a magnificent opportunity."

SOURCE:
The Detroit News, "United Way plans $10M initiative to curb Detroit-area dropout rates," Aug. 6, 2008
http://detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080806/METRO/808060301/ 1005/LIFESTYLE

FURTHER READING:
Michigan Education Digest, "Michigan ranks last in graduating black males," July 29, 2008
http://www.educationreport.org/9703

STATE TO HOLD HEARING ON SPECIAL EDUCATION CHANGES
LANSING, Mich. — A legislative hearing will determine whether proposed changes to special education rules will be implemented, according to the Detroit Free Press.

The Joint Committee on Administrative Rules will hear testimony regarding the Michigan Department of Education's list of proposed changes to special education programming throughout the state. Parents are particularly outraged at the elimination of an extended school year of 230 days for students with severe disabilities. More than 600 people registered in opposition to the change, the Free Press reported.

If the committee doesn't take action, the rules may become official the next time the House and Senate meet in session on the same day, according to the Free Press.

SOURCE:
Detroit Free Press, "Special education hearing set for Wednesday," Aug. 11, 2008
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080811/NEWS06/ 808110374

FURTHER READING:
Michigan Education Report, "Legislators take up special ed rules," Aug. 11, 2008
http://www.educationreport.org/9717

MICHIGAN EDUCATION DIGEST is a service of Michigan Education Report (http://www.educationreport.org), an online newspaper published by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy (http://www.mackinac.org), a private, nonprofit, nonpartisan research and educational institute.

Contact Managing Editor Sarah Grether at
mailto:med@educationreport.org

To subscribe or unsubscribe, go to
http://www.educationreport.org/pubs/mer/listserver.aspx?Source=MED

Related Topics: Education
Michigan Education Daily
Fri., November 21, 2008
"Bay County area schools should conduct school board elections jointly with general elections as a way to save money and have more representative voter turnout." >>
Thu., November 20, 2008
"Now three years old, the Kalamazoo Promise has had mixed results in its mission to send Kalamazoo Public Schools graduates to college." >>
Wed., November 19, 2008
"Grand Rapids and Holland public schools are reporting higher numbers of homeless students than last year and expect the figures to grow." >>
Tue., November 18, 2008
"Nineteen Detroit Public Schools teachers are running for election to leadership slots in the Detroit Federation of Teachers union on a school reform platform, according to The Detroit News. The teachers want to open their own charter school modeled after the Los Angeles Green Dot Schools." >>
Mon., November 17, 2008
"Teachers in Gaylord Community Schools have voted to replace the Michigan Educational Special Services Association with AmeraPlan as a third-party insurance administrator, saving the district about 25 percent on health care costs." >>
Sun., November 16, 2008
"A Spanish language teacher quit her job at Michigan Collegiate High School amid allegations that she had a sexual relationship with a 16-year-old male student." >>
Sat., November 15, 2008
"Wyandotte Public Schools is attracting attention statewide for its 90 percent pass rate among algebra II students." >>
User Comments
llsmith
Testing is not the answer. All it does is give the "teacher" a basis for determining a grade. And, we all know that grading and grades are circumspect. Rather, a more true measure of learning is when the learner (i.e., the "student" using traditional and aniquated terminology and stereotyping) wants to know more about a topic or issue. This expression of desire for more is an affirmation that the learner has mastered current concepts and material and now wants to move on. In this scenario no test nor grade is necessary. What should be necessary is for the provider (i.e., the "teacher") to have the next level or dimension of concepts and materials readily available to present and apply once the learner expresses the desire to move on.

What we need is a system that is designed to cater to this basal learning behavior and can be applied in real time. Take a look at the definitive treatment "Education in America -- What's to Be Done?" developed by Trigon-International. This commission report presents an end-to-end solution that is actionable and affordable. >>
samuel
$400 K, try $400 million >>
terrym2442
Thank you to Lorie Shane and Marcie Lipsitt for blowing off the cover, exposing one of Michigan's "dirty secrets."

As the parent of a child with special needs in Michigan, it's been an uphill battle since day one to get the APPROPRIATE services for my child. Sadly, the bar is held too low for our kids. Upon graduating, if the student is not capable of attending college, he/she is warehoused into post-secondary settings where formal academics are not offered. Perhaps if students had gotten proper academics when younger- taught by highly qualified teachers- many would have had the opportunity to move on and continue formal academics like their non-disabled peers, rather than be expected to dust shelves and bag groceries their whole lives.

Michigan's special eduation has and continues to fail our children.

>>
frick@mackinac.org
As a parent I see the value of a teacher with knowledge of both special ed methods and the subject matter. Do enough of them exist to go around? My guess is that many teachers who concentrated their schooling and training on special ed took fewer courses in subject matter (English, Mathematics, Science, etc.). There are limits on course load, number of years in college, and student finance.

As much as we want the best for every person, we are not going to have six teachers each an expert in their subject matter per one pupil. So in this world of limited resources, each person and our society have to decide how to use the resources we have. Hopefully a successful balance of flexibility and accountability can produce the desired results: educated children with the capacity to think and the ability to learn. >>
Carol
Michigan High School & the University deliver quality education to its
students & has maintained its standard with good caliber. The courses offered by the Michigan institutes are versatile and for future progress of the society and the students, it further enhances them to become excellent citizens!!
---------------------------
Carol
<a href="http://http://www.treatmentcenters.org/michigan">Michigan Treatment Centers</a>
>>
drgrenan
Thank you for your comments. I would be honored and proud to go to any school district or meeting to stand up for your/our children!! Just EMail me and I will be there or call me anytime at 616-8474282
Thank You, Dr Jack Grenan Educator and Cancer Survivor >>
ilifflij
Parents and teachers have not had a voice. The waivers used have allowed administrators of various Michigan schools to plunk in 20 - 25 students in a classroom of students with learning disabilities. As a special education teacher, I find it very difficult to meet the individual learning objectives of that many students. >>
rlboogren
This article presents excellent information. As the parent of a child with a disability I advocate for my son. Currently, there is no one to speak for all the children with disabilities in Michigan. There is no transparency of government. The position of State Superintendent is a dictatorship with the power to make all the decisions. As a parent, I cannot voice my concerns by voting. >>
Ferndale Eagle
Ferndale High School in Ferndale, Michigan succeeded in correcting the mistaken reporting of the Johns Hopkins University report that had included it as a "dropout factory" with poor "promoting power." The University researchers have acknowledged that Ferndale High School does not belong in this category and removed the school from the list because of the school district's high outward mobility (more students move out than move in during high school.). The high school has a three-year promoting power ration of 77% rather than the 50% reported in the Associated Press in October 2007, with the Class of 2006 having a 91% promoting power. Please visit Johns Hopkins' website for more clarification to see the "Schools Removed from the List of Weak Promoting Power High Schools: http://web.jhu.edu/CSOS/images/Removed_from_List_5_14_08.pdf .

Also, visit www.ferndaleschools.org for info about the school district. >>
From Mackinac Blog
So you're not going to admit an anti-MESSA bias?

*wink* >>