Search
Login
Register

MICHIGAN EDUCATION DIGEST
February 24, 2004

Contents of this issue:
  • Education officials urge more students to participate in MEAP
  • Assistant principal plants drugs in student's locker
  • Legislation would allow districts to suspend convicted teachers
  • Federal standards relaxed for English testing
  • Lawmakers debate over volunteer requirement for merit award
  • President Bush responds to criticism of 'No Child Left Behind'
EDUCATION OFFICIALS URGE MORE STUDENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN MEAP
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — State and local education officials are urging more high school students to participate in the Michigan Educational Assessment Program (MEAP) tests to help schools meet the "Adequate Yearly Progress" (AYP) standard set by the federal government.

A number of high school students do not take the MEAP test, which is used to grade schools' annual progress and qualify students for the Michigan Merit Award scholarship program, which provides Michigan college students a scholarship. This lack of participation hurts schools' ability to receive a positive AYP rating, which requires that 95 percent of students take the test. Some school officials believe the standards for student participation are too high, as some students drop out of high school or opt to not receive the Merit Award scholarship. But federal officials count dropout rates and academic apathy as reasons to deny a positive AYP rating.

SOURCES:
Ann Arbor News, "More MEAP participants urged," Feb. 21, 2004
http://www.mlive.com/news/aanews/index.ssf?/base/news-7/ 107736221372622.xml

Michigan Education Report, "No Child Left Behind law demands 'adequate yearly progress' and offers school choice options for parents," Fall 2002
http://www.educationreport.org/4846

Michigan Education Report, "President signs 'No Child Left Behind Act,'" Winter 2002
http://www.educationreport.org/4082

ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL PLANTS DRUGS IN STUDENT'S LOCKER
SOUTH HAVEN, Mich. — Police are investigating an assistant principal they say admitted to planting drugs in a student's locker.

Police report that the South Haven High School official, Pat Conroy, told them he planted marijuana in the student's locker in an attempt to get the student expelled for drug possession.

Conroy suspected the student of dealing drugs, but stated that he "lost his perspective" and had done something "stupid, arrogant and unethical," according to a police report.

A search of Conroy's office turned up bags of marijuana and other drugs in pill form, said police. Conroy admitted to holding the drugs for evidence in school board hearings, but school board president Ed Bocock said he never saw the drugs used in any expulsion hearings.

SOURCE:
Associated Press, "Assistant principal admits planting marijuana in student's locker," Feb. 20, 2004
http://www.mlive.com/newsflash/michigan/index.ssf?/base/news-12/ 1077339319178900.xml

LEGISLATION WOULD ALLOW DISTRICTS TO SUSPEND CONVICTED TEACHERS
LANSING, Mich. — A bill passed last week by the Michigan House of Representatives would require greater scrutiny of teachers and school staff convicted of felonies and serious misdemeanors.

If passed as law, school officials would be required to individually evaluate every felony conviction and determine whether a suspension or hearing is necessary for each case.

Currently, school districts must appeal to the state board of education for every case of suspension based on criminal convictions.

The bill passed 98 to 6, but some questions have been raised about certain provisions included in the legislation. Michigan Education Association spokeswoman Margaret Trimer-Hartley said her organization is not behind the bill because, "We think there's quite a bit of work that needs to be done so that it doesn't unduly penalize a crime of civil disobedience." Martin Ackley, spokesman for state school superintendent Tom Watkins, said Watkins supports the concept of the bill. "We have staff working with the sponsor to craft a bill that works to protect the public while upholding the constitution," Ackley told the Detroit News.

SOURCE:
Detroit News, "Bill would put teachers under more scrutiny," Feb. 18, 2004
http://www.detnews.com/2004/schools/0402/18/b02-67709.htm

FEDERAL STANDARDS RELAXED FOR ENGLISH TESTING
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Increased concern over federal standards under the "No Child Left Behind" Act of 2002 led the Bush Administration last Thursday to relax requirements for the English portion of state assessment tests.

Under the new rules, English-language learners will be allowed leniency for one year, meaning their English test scores will be excluded from aggregate scores for that time. Twelve percent, or 5.5 million, of all U.S. K-12 students are eligible for the language leniency.

The regulation change comes after several high-profile officials publicly decried the federal law, saying it is not feasible for schools to meet current expectations. At a news conference, Education Secretary Rod Paige announced several changes to the law, including the definition of a "highly qualified" teacher. "We want the law to make common sense," he said.

SOURCES:
Washington Post, "'No Child' Tests for Schools Relaxed," Feb. 20, 2004
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn?pagename=article&contentId=A56123-2004Feb19

Michigan Education Report, "President signs 'No Child Left Behind Act,'" Winter 2002
http://www.educationreport.org/4082

Mackinac Center for Public Policy, "Will More Money Improve Student Performance?" June 1998
http://www.mackinac.org/527

Mackinac Center for Public Policy, "More Spending Not the Solution to School Woes," December 1993
http://www.mackinac.org/137

LAWMAKERS DEBATE OVER VOLUNTEER REQUIREMENT FOR MERIT AWARD
LANSING, Mich. — In her State of the State address last month, Gov. Jennifer Granholm proposed a plan to require volunteer service for all recipients of the Michigan Merit Award scholarship.

Granholm's plan would require that students eligible for the scholarship perform at least 40 hours of community service prior to graduation in order to receive the award, a $2,500 one-time grant given to high school graduates going to college. Currently, the scholarship is given based on satisfactory marks on the Michigan Educational Assessment Program (MEAP) tests. "Merit demands more than high test scores," Granholm said. "Merit demands high character as well."

But some parents and lawmakers say the requirement would be an unnecessary burden on high schoolers, who already are busy with college applications, extra-curricular activities and their own volunteer work. "Community service is not a bad idea," state Rep. Sue Tabor, R-Delta Township, told the Lansing State Journal. "But it should come from the heart, not forced by government."

Gov. Granholm suggested a similar volunteer program in her State of the State Address in 2003.

SOURCES:
Lansing State Journal, "Families, lawmakers debate merit award volunteer plan," Feb. 23, 2004
http://www.lsj.com/news/capitol/040223merit_1a-4a.html

Mackinac Center for Public Policy, "Gov. Granholm Proposes 14 Expansions of Government, 6 Limitations," February 2003
http://www.mackinac.org/5011

PRESIDENT BUSH RESPONDS TO CRITICISM OF 'NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND'
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Bush administration is responding to criticism of the requirements of the federal education standards laid out by the "No Child Left Behind" (NCLB) Act of 2002. Several representatives from the federal Department of Education are currently traveling around the United States defending NCLB legislation in front of school boards and town hall meetings.

"I've been in some, I don't want to say hostile, but very contentious environments," deputy assistant secretary Ken Meyer told the Washington Post. "This law is largely misunderstood by the public because of its enormity, so people get emotional about it, and you've got pent-up frustrations."

Most of the dissent comes from arguments over where funding for certain NCLB initiatives should come from and the influence of the federal government over an issue normally left to the states. Recently, administration officials have been working with the states and schools to make proficiency rules more flexible and to counter some of the dissent.

SOURCES:
New York Times, "Bush Education Officials Find New Law a Tough Sell," Feb. 22, 2004 (registration required)
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/02/22/national/22CHIL.html

Michigan Education Report, "President signs 'No Child Left Behind Act,'" Winter 2002
http://www.educationreport.org/4082

Mackinac Center for Public Policy, "Will More Money Improve Student Performance?" June 1998
http://www.mackinac.org/527

Mackinac Center for Public Policy, "More Spending Not the Solution to School Woes," December 1993
http://www.mackinac.org/137

MICHIGAN EDUCATION DIGEST is a service of Michigan Education Report ( http://www.educationreport.org), a quarterly newspaper with a circulation of 130,000 published by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy ( http://www.mackinac.org), a private, nonprofit, nonpartisan research and educational institute.

Contact Managing Editor Neil Block at
med@educationreport.org.

To subscribe, go to:
http://www.educationreport.org/pubs/mer/#subscribe.
Related Topics: Education
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 >>