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Opinion: Michigan’s ‘alternative’ certification won’t improve teacher talent pool
Our guest author says that Michigan’s new route to teacher certification relies too heavily on old practices.
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Small district, big plans
N.I.C.E. Community Schools was named a ‘Project ReImagine’ school district in 2009. Here’s an update on their 11-point reform plan.
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The proper role of a public school board
Our guest commentator says that the best school boards are those that hold themselves accountable for the district’s performance.
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Adding private schools to the school choice debate
When Michigan debates school choice, the conversation is usually limited to public schools. Not so in other states.
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Two languages, two cultures, one global citizen
Ted Delphia wants to open a public charter school where Japanese and American students learn with and from each other.
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Private schools cope with weak economy
Private and parochial schools are looking beyond the tuition model as a way to generate revenue.
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‘No Excuses’ at Dove Academy
College is the new norm at this elementary school.
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Should all charter teachers be in state pension plan?
As state lawmakers discuss changes in teacher retirement benefits, one idea in the mix would add all charter teachers to the system.
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Spend less? Tax more? System overhaul?
School officials heard from all sides of the education funding debate in an ‘Education Summit’ at Saginaw Valley State University recently.
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Teacher certification tests don’t get the job done
Guest author Ryan McCarl says that the Michigan Test for Teacher Certification does little to pinpoint the best teacher candidates.
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Too Expensive For Michigan
Our schools pay far more than average for health insurance.
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More or less
Length of school year doesn’t predict achievement.
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Pool Party
Health pool a step forward.
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‘Dangerous’ to whom?
Behind rhetoric, privatization saves money.
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The ‘me’ in MEA
Pension proposal is expensive and does not help students.
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Dollars and sense
We need to teach students about free enterprise.
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Wed., September 1, 2010
"An aviation school in Michigan is one example of a new generation of public charter schools designed to serve niche audiences."
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Tue., August 31, 2010
"A 10-year-old Windsor boy who completed part of his education in Michigan is being denied entry to public high school in Windsor even though he's completed the eighth-grade curriculum."
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Mon., August 30, 2010
"Principal John Hoving is using Facebook as a way to promote Bay City All Saints Central School as well as to head off possible cyber bullying."
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Sun., August 29, 2010
"Royal Oak Public Schools students will be featured in an Oct. 12 episode of MTV's "If You Really Knew Me," a cable television program that the producer describes as "students trying to be accepted for who they are.""
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Sat., August 28, 2010
"Public schools in Michigan were offered an automatic "A" on part of their annual state report card this year, a one-time arrangement that may have spared some from being unaccredited."
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Fri., August 27, 2010
"More than 1,000 teacher retirements will allow Detroit Public Schools to recall all teachers from layoff and hire up to 300 more to fill staffing gaps."
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Thu., August 26, 2010
"Inland Lakes Schools is considering hiring a private firm to provide custodial services as a way to save money, but a union representative says that new federal funding makes such a move unnecessary."
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Wed., August 25, 2010
"The Michigan Community College Association predicts it will win a legislative battle this week over allowing community colleges to offer baccalaureate degrees in specific areas."
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Tue., August 24, 2010
"Michigan State University is investigating concerns raised by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy that some material in a study of school consolidation may have been plagiarized."
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Mon., August 23, 2010
"About half of Michigan's public school districts have complied with a new law requiring them to post financial data online, while about 31 percent have not."
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Sun., August 22, 2010
"A Wayne Circuit Court judge has ruled that Detroit Public Schools must return unionized security guards to their jobs rather than follow through with its contract with a private security firm."
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Sat., August 21, 2010
"Mount Clemens Community School District teachers have ratified a four-year contract that partially ties pay hikes to job performance."
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Fri., August 20, 2010
"Surplus money in the 2011 school aid fund would go to community colleges as part of a larger proposal by Gov. Jennifer Granholm to fill holes in the state budget this year and next."
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Thu., August 19, 2010
"Leelanau Montessori will become a public charter school this fall, authorized by Suttons Bay Public Schools and located at Suttons Bay Elementary School."
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Wed., August 18, 2010
"Chippewa Valley Schools received nearly 19,000 applications for 71 teaching jobs it recently posted."
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Tue., August 17, 2010
"Consolidation of public school districts as a way to save money is on the front burner again in Michigan, but many districts say they're already saving cash by sharing services."
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Mon., August 16, 2010
"The Los Angeles Times is publishing an independent analysis of the best and worst teachers in the Los Angeles Unified School District using a "value-added" approach that shows wide variation in teacher effectiveness."
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Sun., August 15, 2010
"The Michigan Senate agreed unanimously that an individual who has mastered a Native American tribal language does not have to be certified by the state before teaching that language in a public school classroom."
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Sat., August 14, 2010
"A number of home-schooled students nationally enter college well before the typical age."
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Fri., August 13, 2010
"Garden City Public Schools will pay hundreds of thousands of dollars in interest this year as it borrows up to $10 million to smooth cash flow."
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carol peterson
education is an all around development for a child
he should be mentally and physically strong
<a href="http://rescueyoursavings.com" rel="dofollow">Savings</a>
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carol peterson
education is an all around development for a child
he should be mentally and physically strong
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johnstfu
Informative post. In order to deal with today's troubled youth, it is helpful to take a professional guidance for better teen recovery programs. Choosing a specialized organization for troubled youth is one of the most important steps for better teen recovery. Boysville is one of the non profit organization dedicated to help troubled youth with years of successful results by helping <a href=http://www.troubledteensguide.com/>troubled youth</a> to responsible individuals. Hope this organization continue their priceless support to most of the needy troubled youth with various helpful services.
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Aarowman
Public servants like Presidents, Vice-Presidents, Senators, Congressmen, Judges, Secretaries of Various Departments and the like should be first to be compensated for performance.
The idea that the playing field for students is level everywhere is as Quixotic as thinking all politicians are honest and competent.
There are neighborhoods where only Portugese or gang sign language is spoken, where the parents both work two jobs to pay rent, where getting to school and back is more dangerous than Iraq and Afghanastan.
This Secretary of Education has to remove the silver spoon, roll up his sleeves and take his superior intellect attitude into the trenches and show the poor slobs that are taking their teachers jobs for granted how he would do it. Just because his mommy used to help out in Chicago doesn't give him the Congression Medal of Honor. Actually he's a stuffed shirt pretending to know it all.
How much do you want to bet that he wouldn't attempt entering these neighborhoods let alone these schools without security.
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verdemont resident
This article is tucked away yet is profoundly correct. Parents are pseudo parenting little objects of consumption. Teens, professionals, working moms like the "idea" of a child but are not in for the long haul and everyone loses.
Schools are enabling parents to do precious little. The time parents spend with their children is the only thing that matters. Bussing needs to be cut, school breakfast, lunch, and afterschool care needs to be stopped. Parents will grow that bond by sacrificing the nails, hair, parties, drugs, quads, vacations, etc. and making a lunch for their child and arrangements to be home when the child is out of school. No one is that poor that they can't provide a boloney sandwich, a baggie of pretzels, an apple, 50 cents for a milk, and two cookies each day.
Please respond!
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JackI
Is it true that young ones today are losing interest on these subjects? Obviously, the White House is promoting programs that will help students on coping up with math and science subjects. But, The federal government thinks that the quality of math and science education can repair credit with the scientific community and improve US education with a few <a rev="vote for" title="U.S. Government Spends $250 Million on Science and Math" href="http://personalmoneystore.com/Payday-Loans/ ">payday loans</a> of sorts. In reality, it will take far longer to accomplish than they might think – US educators can't even get students to accept that "irregardless" isn't a word, and the difference between their, they're, and there – our students can't even learn their own language! It's a noble aim, to be sure, but throwing money at it may not work in the long run.
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beggarsall
I am a teacher in the same county who is presently trying to quit the union. Like Caldwell, I strongly disagree with the MEA.
This article was timely.
Rob Olson
Pittsford Area Schools
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rickolson
I agree this is a change worth making. I describe some of the uneven effects of the idea on my blog at http://rickolson.blogspot.com/2009/08/statewide-health-insurance-plan-for.html which you may also wish to read.
The devil will be in the details, so this is one we will need to monitor closely.
Rick Olson from Saline, former school Business Manager
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MichelleO
Nowadays, saving money is very crucial and properly investing the money can keep you and your family away from the effect of the financial crisis. The sad news is that a lot of the options for short term funding have been drying up. Short term funding is a necessary thing to have around, and going through traditional channels such as banks isn't an option for a lot of people anymore – basically it's only open to Ken Lewis. Installment loans are an option, but some people, including senior citizens, have been thinking about raiding their retirement fund. Getting into your pension retirement plan or 401(k) funds is the last thing you want to do if you don't qualify for any withdrawals yet. The penalties are substantial, and you'll end up needing installments loans to pay them if you use retirement funds for <a rev="vote for" title="Installment Loans Reliable Option As 401(k)s are Dwindling" href="http://personalmoneystore.com/moneyblog/2009/05/17/installment-loans-reliable-option-401ks-dwindling/">short term funding</a>.
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QUEEN_BEE_09
I AGREE
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The Case for Choice in Schooling: Restoring Parental Control of Education
The Cost of Remedial Education
The Michigan Education Association
Michigan Education Special Services Association: The MEA's Money Machine