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MICHIGAN EDUCATION DIGEST
February 9, 2010

Contents of this issue:

  • AP participation, failure rates both up
  • School group not ruling out ballot initiative
  • Local union wants agenda time for MEA
  • Districts pay for 'best school' title
  • Catholic school will forgive tuition

AP PARTICIPATION, FAILURE RATES BOTH UP

WASHINGTON, D.C. - More high school students than ever are taking Advanced Placement tests, but the failure rate is increasing as well, according to USA Today.

The newspaper's analysis showed that about 41 percent of the record 2.9 million students who took AP exams last year received a failing score. (To pass, students must earn at least a 3 on a scale of 1 to 5.)

AP courses are intended to challenge high school students with college-level work; some colleges award early credit to students who pass AP exams.

While USA Today did not discuss Michigan individually, the College Board 2009 report shows that about 67,000 Michigan students took AP classes last year, with a failure rate of about 35 percent across all subjects.

Michigan's mean scores varied widely, from 2.00 on the "Italian Language and Culture" exam, taken by 10 students only, to 4.65 on the "Chinese Language and Culture" exam, taken by 48 students. Michigan's most popular AP test is English Literature and Composition; about 8,700 students took that exam last year, earning a mean score of 2.85.

College Board officials told USA Today that it is misleading to lump all tests together to derive a pass-fail rate. For example, scores on AP Physics tests are consistently increasing, while AP English Literature scores are dropping, USA Today reported.

Also, average scores tend to drop as a wider range of students participate.

SOURCE:
USA Today, "Failure rate for AP tests climbing," Feb. 4, 2010

FURTHER READING:
Michigan Education Digest, "MME scores mainly unchanged," July 15, 2009

SCHOOL GROUP NOT RULING OUT BALLOT INITIATIVE

DETROIT - Michigan voters could see an education funding question on the ballot this year if the state Legislature doesn't take action on the issue, the head of the "Save our Students, Schools and State" organization told the Detroit Free Press.

"I am offended at the notion that we have to go to the ballot," Tom White, SOS chairman and former head of the Michigan School Business Officials, told the Free Press. "But if we have to go, we will."

Just what the organization would seek in a ballot initiative was not detailed, but White told the Free Press that one thing SOS promotes is a reduction in school employee health insurance costs.

SOS members include representatives from the Michigan Association of School Boards, Michigan Parent Teacher Student Association and other education groups. It does not include the Michigan Education Association or American Federation of Teachers-Michigan.

"It's not an anti-union thing," White told the Free Press. "We're not going to be able to solve this ... with just getting new money."

SOURCE:
Detroit Free Press, "Group pushing for changes in school funding could take its case to voters," Feb. 7, 2010

FURTHER READING:
Mackinac Center for Public Policy, "Cuts to the Classroom: How Will Funding Reductions Affect Michigan Students?" Nov. 9, 2009

LOCAL UNION WANTS AGENDA TIME FOR MEA

NOVI, Mich. - In a disagreement 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, according to the Novi News.

According to the News, the Novi teachers union wanted an MEA consultant to make a public presentation to the school board regarding a board request that teachers consider contract concessions.

However, while the school board wants to hear from the local union, it is not required under the current contract to give meeting time to the MEA, Bob Schram, assistant superintendent of human resources, told the News.

Tom Brenner, NEA president, has filed a grievance over the issue and also told the News that the union would host a public presentation by an MEA consultant regarding the district's budget.

SOURCE:
Novi News, "Union president irked MEA cannot present to board," Feb. 4, 2010

FURTHER READING:
Mackinac Center for Public Policy, "The Source of the School Budget Quagmire," Dec. 7, 2009

DISTRICTS PAY FOR 'BEST SCHOOL' TITLE

YPSILANTI, Mich. - 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, according to AnnArbor.com.

The schools did not have to meet any criteria other than paying the money, AnnArbor.com reported. In addition to being designated top districts, the schools are cited on a Web site titled "bestschoolsinmichigan.com," and the company, Sussman Sikes, bought time on a Detroit-area television station to broadcast a feature on the schools.

Sussman Sikes representatives did not return multiple messages from AnnArbor.com requesting comment, the report said.

Several administrators in the participating districts said they view the payment as a way to showcase their schools and attract students, AnnArbor.com reported. Lincoln Consolidated Schools Superintendent Lynn Cleary told AnnArbor.com that print media in the area has declined and that the publicity allows Lincoln to reach a large audience.

Ann Arbor Public Schools decided against participating, spokesman Liz Margolis told AnnArbor.com, because of budget considerations and a lack of transparency over how districts came to be named "best schools."

SOURCE:
AnnArbor.com, "Lincoln pays $25,000 to be named one of the top school districts in Michigan," Feb. 4, 2010

FURTHER READING:
Mackinac Center for Public Policy, "Michigan School Funding Problems Solved!" Feb. 4, 2010

CATHOLIC SCHOOL WILL FORGIVE TUITION

WARREN, Mich. - Students won't have to leave De La Salle Collegiate High School next fall if their parents become unemployed and can't afford tuition during the school year, according to the Associated Press.

The all-boys, suburban Detroit high school has about 830 students and has set tuition at $8,700 next year. However, the school will forgive tuition for parents who become unemployed, according to an AP report published at mlive.com.

The benefit would apply to a specific school year, according to AP. De La Salle Principal Patrick Adams says the goal is to give families some security in a tough economy, according to AP.

SOURCE:
Mlive.com, "Detroit area school gives tuition break to jobless," Feb. 6, 2010

FURTHER READING:
Mackinac Center for Public Policy, "Catholic Schools and the Common Good," Aug. 16, 2005

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
Thu., February 2, 2012
"Comcast has announced it is expanding eligibility for “Internet Essentials,” a program that provides Internet access to the households of disadvantaged students ..." >>
Tue., January 31, 2012
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Mon., January 30, 2012
"Muskegon Heights will save about $1.2 million this year and next after privatizing clerical workers, custodians and bus drivers ..." >>
Sun., January 29, 2012
"Secretaries in Niles Community Schools have agreed to a new contract that includes a 2.5 percent pay cut ..." >>
Sat., January 28, 2012
"The Saline Board of Education will wait for the state Legislature to act before going ahead with a proposal to require students to recite the Pledge of Allegiance daily ..." >>
Fri., January 27, 2012
"Some Central Michigan University Faculty Association members are suspicious of their union’s voting process ..." >>
Tue., January 24, 2012
"Gov. Rick Snyder joined 25 other governors in recognizing the week of January 22-28 as 'School Choice Week' ..." >>
User Comments
suemack
Since 2009, the EFM was allocated $500.5 million in stimulus funds. They tore down a High School and built a multi-million dollar Cass Tech, the structure alone costing $94 million. $45 million was spent for a safety program. $41 million was used to purchase a reading series not needed, $50 million was used to buy all new computers for staff and students. $1.6 million was used for administrative travel and all leadership positions recieved significant raises. The EFM in the first year gave himself a $86,000 raise, including resources from philanthropist contributions, his salalry was somewhere beyond $450,000. This is a leadership who spent more to rent and eventually buy five floors of the Fisher Bldg for office space, paying more than the owner paid for the entire building one year earlier, adorned with rare and expensive artifacts.

Teachers have had pay freezes since 2001, they have had pay cuts, benefit cuts and an additional $500.00 has been deducted from their monothly pay for two years and counting.

Oh the money is in the schools alright, it just doesn't make it to the classroom. >>
adrianna
except/accept??????? per pupil funding. If you're a teacher, I hope this was a typo. >>
danielsmith506
Yes, I am agree with you. Educational equity argument can help, But also cause blowback credits are more popular than vouchers.

Thanks
_______
Daniel

<a href=“http://www.legalx.net” rel=“dofollow”>Find Attorney</a> >>
danielsmith506
Yes, I am agree with you. Educational equity argument can help, But also cause blowback credits are more popular than vouchers.

Thanks
_______
Daniel

<a href=“http://www.legalx.net”>Find Attorney</a> >>
9Billion
Your comment "No one is that poor that they cant provide a boloney sandwich..." was the definition of "out-of-touch". First, I agree whole-heartedly that parents matter. I would love to see parents drive or car pool kids to school. Even provide them with food, too. However, sadly it is unrealistic. The economy is so weak that everything is shrinking. If we eliminate transportation and food for students we may find many families electing not to send the child to school at all...then what?

Please respond! >>
colonelb
This agreement has saved the districts money yet we are chastised for it despite the fact the wording at issue was known to be invalid and unenforceable by either side. I applaud our effort and believe this suit is frivolous. http://www.godfrey-lee.org/education/components/board/default.php?sectiondetailid=3458&threadid=554 >>
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> >>
carol peterson
education is an all around development for a child
he should be mentally and physically strong >>
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. >>
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. >>