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MICHIGAN EDUCATION DIGEST
November 17, 2009

Contents of this issue:

  • Charters gain market share
  • Flanagan: Solve your differences
  • Panel would advise on consolidation
  • New life for school vouchers?
  • Health insurance holds up contracts

CHARTERS GAIN MARKET SHARE

FLINT, Mich. - More than one-third of the students who live within Detroit Public Schools boundaries attended a public charter school in 2008-2009, a national report shows. In Flint, about 25 percent of the students attended charters and in Grand Rapids, 17 percent.

Writing about The National Alliance for Public Charters annual report, The Flint Journal noted that Flint ranks eighth in the nation in terms of the percentage of students attending charters. Detroit is third, according to the report, and Grand Rapids ranked 14th, tied with four districts in other states.

New Orleans was No. 1, the report said, where 57 percent of students assigned to the New Orleans Public School System attend charter schools instead.

A Flint Journal review of enrollment at the 10 charter public schools in Genesee County showed a combined increase of 500 students over the previous year. International Academy of Flint gained 100 students alone, and no charter school lost enrollment, The Journal reported.

Enrollment in Flint Community Schools dropped by nearly 1,500 students during the same time period, according to The Journal.

A Flint Community Schools spokesman told The Journal that enrollment did not drop as much as expected and that the district is focusing on delivering a high-quality education as a way of attracting parents.

SOURCES:
The Flint Journal, "Flint ranked No. 8 in nation for percentage of students who live within Flint School District boundaries but attend charter schools," Nov. 12, 2009

National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, "Top 10 Charter Communities by Market Share," October 2009

FURTHER READING:
Michigan Education Report, "When we're done with you, you will have options," Sept. 23, 2009

FLANAGAN: SOLVE YOUR DIFFERENCES

LANSING, Mich. - State school Superintendent Michael Flanagan asked lawmakers and teachers unions Thursday to settle their differences and clear the way for Michigan to apply for up to $400 million in federal funding for public schools, The Detroit News reported.

To do that, Michigan must open the door to more charter public schools, make it easier for qualified people to become teachers, and connect the dots between individual teachers and their students' performance on standardized tests, The News reported.

The state has until January to submit an application for federal Race to the Top funds, which will be allocated to states primarily on the grounds of how ready they are to implement measures to improve teacher quality, expand use of data and address failing schools.

"We have to have a number of pieces of legislation or we will not win Race to the Top," Flanagan told the House Education Committee, according to The News. "Colorado and some other states are exceeding the requirements."

The Michigan Education Association opposes some of the reform ideas, The News reported.

MEA lobbyist Dave Stafford told the committee that if teachers are evaluated on the basis of student scores, some teachers will be reluctant to take on hard-to-educate students, The News reported.

SOURCE:
The Detroit News, "State schools head urges compromise on reforms," Nov. 13, 2009

FURTHER READING:
Michigan Education Report, "State Ignores $600 Million for Schools," Nov. 13, 2009

PANEL WOULD ADVISE ON CONSOLIDATION

LANSING, Mich. - A state representative wants to create an advisory panel to review public school district boundaries and recommend where consolidation or division makes financial sense, according to the (Oakland County) Spinal Column Newsweekly.

Rep. Fred Miller, D-Mount Clemens, said that House Bill 5561 would establish a non-partisan, temporary "School District Modernization Advisory Commission" similar to the advisory panels that recommended military base closings in 2005, Spinal Column reported.

The commission would consist of 15 members representing such stakeholder groups as parents, administrators, teacher unions, school boards and others, the report said.

"This (School District Modernization Advisory) commission is designed to take politics out of the discussion of school district boundaries," Miller said, the Spinal Column reported.

"Some should be consolidated, some annexed, some perhaps even subdivided."

Now in the House Education Committee, the bill would require the panel to report by Aug. 1, 2010.

SOURCE:
(Oakland County) Spinal Column Newsweekly, "Lawmaker wants study on school district changes," Nov. 11, 2009

FURTHER READING:
Mackinac Center for Public Policy, "School District Consolidation, Size and Spending: An Evaluation," May 22, 2007

MichiganVotes, "House Bill 5561 (Establish school consolidation study commission)," Oct. 28, 2009

NEW LIFE FOR SCHOOL VOUCHERS?

LANSING, Mich. - The former state superintendent of schools says that taxpayers fed up with status quo in education might be willing to support a school voucher program in Michigan.

Writing in Dome magazine, Tom Watkins said that while voters turned down a voucher initiative in Michigan in 2000, they will have the chance in November 2010 to vote on holding a constitutional convention and rewriting the state Constitution.

That could include amending the prohibition on using government tax support for private or religious schools.

Watkins was state superintendent of public instruction from 2001 to 2005 and now is an education and business consultant in the United States and China.

Michigan residents are willing to invest in public education, Watkins said, but they question whether the current system turns out students prepared to compete in a global economy.

Watkins has called for varied reforms in public education and education funding at least since 2004, among them health care and pension reform, school district consolidation and shared services.

He also has suggested eliminating 12th grade, reducing college tuition rates for students going into high-demand jobs and offering the equivalent of a freshman or sophomore year of college through e-learning, according to a series of reform ideas published by The Detroit News.

SOURCES:
The Detroit News, "50 Ideas to Fix Michigan," Nov. 17, 2009

Dome, "New opening for school vouchers," Nov. 13, 2009

FURTHER READING:
Michigan Education Report, "Retirement fund losses will cost schools, but how much?" April 20, 2009

HEALTH INSURANCE HOLDS UP CONTRACTS

HARPER WOODS, Mich. - Health insurance is a sticking point in contract negotiations for at least four southeast Michigan public school districts, the Detroit Free Press reported.

Harper Woods, Woodhaven-Brownstown, Southfield and Redford Union school districts all told the Free Press that they have not come to agreement with their teachers' unions on health care plans or payments.

In Redford Union, the district wants teachers to pay $1,500 annually toward their own health insurance premium. Teachers currently do not contribute any amount, the Free Press reported.

Woodhaven-Brownstown wants to insure teachers through a self- funded trust, but teachers are worried the trust won't have enough money, according to the Free Press, while Southfield wants to cap the district's payment for health insurance and require employees to pay the difference if premiums exceed the cap.

Harper Woods is still negotiating over insurance, salaries, the school calendar and trimester scheduling, the Free Press reported.

SOURCE:
Detroit Free Press, "Harper Woods joins MEA no-progress list," Nov. 16, 2009

FURTHER READING:
Mackinac Center for Public Policy, "Health Savings Accounts Can Save Michigan Money," Nov. 9, 2009

MICHIGAN EDUATION 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
Mon., February 8, 2010
"Michigan voters could see an education funding question on the ballot this year if the state Legislature doesn't take action on the issue." >>
Sat., February 6, 2010
"In an apparent flap over who is allowed to book time on the school board agenda, the Novi Education Association said that if it can't bring in a representative from the Michigan Education Association to speak at a board meeting, then it will hold a community meeting of its own." >>
Fri., February 5, 2010
"More high school students than ever are taking Advanced Placement tests, but the failure rate is increasing as well." >>
Thu., February 4, 2010
"Nine southeast Michigan school districts paid $25,000 each to be named a "top school district" in Michigan by a Detroit-area public relations firm." >>
Wed., February 3, 2010
"Two former Detroit Public Schools employees accused of defrauding the district of $400,000 in a payroll scam pled guilty in federal court." >>
Tue., February 2, 2010
"Students rallied outside Pontiac High School last week to protest the layoffs of 15 teachers, but comments made by one student suggested that the youths also disagreed with teacher seniority rules." >>
Mon., February 1, 2010
"In a bid to reduce state spending by up to $450 million, Gov. Jennifer Granholm has proposed modifying the pension and health care plans for future school and state retirees, but also would offer an incentive to any who retire this summer." >>
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 >>