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MICHIGAN EDUCATION DIGEST
October 27, 2009

Contents of this issue:

  • NCLB case dismissed
  • Flint in court over MESSA
  • Illness affects MEAP schedule
  • Lansing debates level of school cuts
  • Academic credit via career classes

NCLB CASE DISMISSED

WASHINGTON, D.C. - A lawsuit against the No Child Left Behind Act — brought by the Pontiac School District and others — has been dismissed, though the National Education Association could appeal, Education Week has reported.

After 10 months of deliberation, the 16 judges making up the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit deadlocked on whether NCLB is an "unfunded mandate" which illegally requires school districts to spend their own money to comply with its provisions, according to Education Week.

The inability to reach a majority decision means that a lower court ruling to dismiss the case stands, Education Week reported.

The case, Pontiac School District v. Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education, was filed by Pontiac, eight other Michigan districts and schools in Texas and Vermont, with backing from the NEA, according to the report.

Eight judges agreed at least in part that school districts could not be required to spend local funds to comply with the law; five said that the law clearly outlines the tradeoff between accepting federal money and mandated academic progress, and three judges refused to issue an opinion on the merits of the case. The latter three said that states themselves, not individual districts, were the proper plaintiffs, Education Week reported.

SOURCE:
Education Week, "The School Law Blog: Appeals Court Upholds Dismissal of NCLB Suit," Oct. 17, 2009

FURTHER READING:
Michigan Education Digest, "Michigan schools in NCLB lawsuit," Nov. 26, 2008

FLINT IN COURT OVER MESSA

FLINT, Mich. - The Flint School District and its teachers union will meet in court Thursday for a hearing on whether the district can switch health insurance plans, The Flint Journal reported.

United Teachers of Flint Inc. and the district currently are in contract negotiations. The union contends that the former contract requires the district to continue providing insurance through the Michigan Education Special Services Association until a new contract is settled, The Journal reported.

The district says it can shift teachers to HealthPlus of Michigan — and save $3 million — as long as the new plan offers the same coverage, according to The Journal.

MESSA, an affiliate of the Michigan Education Association, is a third-party administrator that sells Blue Cross Blue Shield insurance packages to a majority of Michigan public school districts.

Genesee Circuit Court Judge Joseph J. Farah called for an evidentiary hearing on the matter Thursday. The district had notified teachers that the switch will take place Sunday.

Attorneys from each side told the Journal that the key issue is whether HealthPlus and MESSA offer mirror coverage. The district looked around for less expensive insurance after MESSA costs rose 18 percent this year, district attorney Kendall Williams told The Journal.

SOURCE:
The Flint Journal, "Flint teachers and district headed back to court Thursday over proposed health care insurance change," Oct. 26, 2009

FURTHER READING:
Mackinac Center for Public Policy, "On Balance, School Health Insurance Proposal an Improvement," Aug. 4, 2009

ILLNESS AFFECTS MEAP SCHEDULE

LANSING, Mich. - Flu and related illnesses have taken a toll on the Michigan Educational Assessment Program, as nearly 200 schools across the state were closed due to sickness on one or more of the annual test dates, the Detroit Free Press reported.

MEAP testing, including all make-ups, was scheduled to end as of Thursday, but the Michigan Department of Education will give schools permission to test through Nov. 4 if they submit a request, department spokeswoman Jan Ellis told the Free Press.

At New Bedford Academy in Lambertville, a public charter school, about one-third of all students and teachers were absent due to illness on Oct. 19, a board member told the Free Press. None of the students tested positive for the H1N1 virus, but there have been cases of unspecified influenza, according to the Free Press.

The Hastings School District closed when it reached 25 percent absenteeism at Hastings High School, Superintendent Richard Satterlee told the Free Press.

SOURCE:
Detroit Free Press, "Sickness extends MEAP testing," Oct. 23, 2009

FURTHER READING:
Michigan Education Report, "Into and beyond the MEAP," Nov. 25, 2008

LANSING DEBATES LEVEL OF SCHOOL CUTS

LANSING, Mich. - Public schools could face a $292-per-pupil cut this year, up from last week's $165-per-pupil estimate, but there is disagreement on the governor's motivation in announcing the higher amount as well as disagreement over whether it is needed, according to the Michigan Information & Research Service Inc.

The $165-per-student reduction was factored into the school budget adopted by the state Legislature, but Gov. Jennifer Granholm said an additional $127-per-student reduction will be needed due to the state's declining tax revenue, MIRS reported.

Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop, R-Rochester, said that Granholm is manipulating the public into believing a tax increase is necessary, according to MIRS. He said the school budget adopted by the Legislature is accurate, based on May revenue estimating figures, while the governor said her added cuts are based on a more recent estimate by state Treasurer Robert Kleine.

The Legislature's budget shows a $123 million surplus in the school fund after the lower level of cuts are implemented, while Kleine's estimate shows a $212 million deficit, MIRS reported.

The extra cut would take effect in December unless new revenue is appropriated, according to MIRS.

SOURCE:
Michigan Information & Research Service Inc., "Granholm announces new $127-per-pupil cut," Oct. 22, 2009 (Subscription required)

FURTHER READING:
Mackinac Center for Public Policy, "A Michigan School Money Primer: State Government," May 30, 2007

ACADEMIC CREDIT VIA CAREER CLASSES

FLINT, Mich. - Students enrolled in the Genesee Area Skills Center Technology Center now may earn academic credit through career or technology courses taken there, according to The Flint Journal.

When Michigan increased the number of academic credits required to receive a high school diploma, Flint Community Schools staffers began to research ways in which students could earn that credit through career coursework, The Journal reported.

Under the new plan, students will be able to earn credit in math, English, science and visual performing and applied arts by taking certain courses at the technology center.

Many existing career and technical classes already contain math content, officials said.

"We're not looking to water down anything for the students," said Liz Blomquist, a GASC math instructor, according to the Journal.

SOURCE:
The Flint Journal, "Flint Board of Education gives GASC Technology Center authorization to offer academic credit toward state graduation requirements," Oct. 21, 2009

FURTHER READING:
Michigan Education Report, "Finding algebra in fashion design," Aug. 5, 2008

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 Lorie Shane at
mailto:med@educationreport.org

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

Michigan Education Daily
Wed., March 17, 2010
"Detroit Public Schools will end up with 100 fewer school buildings than it had in 2006 if a new closure plan is carried out." >>
Tue., March 16, 2010
"Most of the country's public schools would have more freedom under a proposed rewrite of the No Child Left Behind law." >>
Tue., March 16, 2010
"Reading scores improved in all grades, and math scores in most grades, while science and social studies scores dipped slightly on the Michigan Educational Assessment Program tests taken in fall of 2009." >>
Mon., March 15, 2010
"Some parents who attended a South Redford School District forum recently called on teachers to make wage or benefit concessions as a way to protect school programs." >>
Sun., March 14, 2010
"An ambitious proposal to overhaul Detroit Public Schools ran into opposition Thursday over the issue of dissolving the school board and allowing Mayor Dave Bing to take charge." >>
Sat., March 13, 2010
"At least 14 public school districts in the Muskegon area offer some type of alternative education, either on their own or through a consortium, but the programs are under both budget and academic pressure." >>
Fri., March 12, 2010
"Michigan voters may see a ballot initiative in August asking them to approve a sales tax on services, with the understanding that their approval would also mean education spending reform, the chairman of the House Education Committee said Wednesday." >>
User Comments
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. >>
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

>>
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 >>
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>.


>>
QUEEN_BEE_09
I AGREE >>
colonelb
Godfrey-Lee on the west side of the state has been running all-day, every-day kindergarten for several years. >>
BenjaminY
We have a problem in Detroit Public School, their system had cash flow problem for years now. And honestly it getting worst in terms in progression with more children leaving to charter their schools almost every year. The state decided to give the Detroit school districts cash advance of $70 million so they would meet the schools expenses, as well as payment for teachers. Robert Bobb, the newly appointed emergency financial manager, requested the funds early in order for him to get the house in order before he had to start panicking. President Obama has been giving out large sums of money for troubled school districts, perhaps that’s where a generous portion of the aid came from. Getting Detroit Public Schools in working order is a worthy cause.

LINK TO READ FOR MORE INFO:
http://personalmoneystore.com/moneyblog/2009/03/10/state-advance-detroit-public-schools-70m/


>>
colonelb
I am all for school choice and think its great that charters are finally moving forward. However, I'm wondering if the research accounts for a playing field that is not level. I can't take my school buildings and move them anywhere I want, nor can I simply slap up a pole building and make it a school. If anything, public schools need less state regulation and oversight so we can play by the same minimal rules charters do. If you want public schools to compete to improve, remove the barriers to doing so. I will gladly except less funding per pupil if the playing field is level.
>>
karen
The purpose is to encourage non excercising children to excercise but my daughter's highschool gave her an improper body fat percentage and made my healthy daughter who trains 20 hours a week in tap jazz and ballet believe she was overweaghit instead of a person with muscles.
I believe the public schools do not have the right to make the diagnoses with these kids because they are using one measurement and recording it from their arms that they have a certain percetnage of body fat with one arm caliper test.
Does any one have feed back?
>>
deepakp9
Specifically, 81 percent of students in religiously affiliated schools and 82 percent of students in other private schools have parents who report being "very satisfied" with their schools, compared to 55 percent of students in assigned public schools and 63 percent of students in chosen public schools.

High levels of satisfaction among private school parents also extend to opinions about their children's teachers, academic standards of the school, order and discipline at the school, the amount of homework assigned, and interactions with school personnel.

http://fitt.in >>