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MICHIGAN EDUCATION DIGEST
September 27, 2005

Contents of this issue:

  • Former teacher union leader Feldman dies at 65

  • ACT scheduled to take the place of MEAP in 2007

  • Detroit dropout programs encourage kids to go back to school

  • Governor's letter calls on authorizers to improve charter performance

  • Greenville school buses to begin using biodiesel

  • Holland teachers prepare for strike

  • Muskegon-area parents like charter schools as alternative

  • School district takes responsibility for bus injury

FORMER TEACHER UNION LEADER FELDMAN DIES AT 65
New York — The New York Times reported that former American Federation of Teachers President Sandra Feldman died of breast cancer at her Manhattan home on Sept. 18. She was 65.

Feldman, who wrote a feature for the Mackinac Center's Michigan Education Report in 1999, led the 1.3 million-member AFT from 1997 to 2004. According to The Times, Feldman was "outspoken" and a "scrappy fighter" for her organization. She had a reputation for publicly taking on New York mayors and other officials when she felt they were not looking out for the best interests of AFT teachers. Randi Weingarten, who succeeded Feldman as president of a New York local teachers union, told The Times, "People remember her take-no-prisoners kind of attitude, but Sandy was far more pragmatic than people give her credit for."

In the Education Gadfly, an online periodical published by the Thomas B. Fordham Foundation, Diane Ravitch noted that Feldman was also engaged in the civil rights movement and teacher strikes in the 1960s. Feldman most recently worked with the Bush administration to help draft the federal No Child Left Behind Act.

SOURCES:
The New York Times, "Sandra Feldman, Scrappy and Outspoken Labor Leader for Teachers, Dies at 65," Sept. 20, 2005
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/20/college/coll20feldman.html?pagewanted=print

The Education Gadfly (Thomas B. Fordham Foundation), "Sandra Feldman, in memoriam," Sept. 22, 2005
http://www.edexcellence.net/foundation/gadfly/issue.cfm?id=210#2485

FURTHER READING:
Michigan Education Report, "Unions Help Fix Failing Schools," Spring 1999
http://www.educationreport.org/1685

ACT SCHEDULED TO TAKE THE PLACE OF MEAP IN 2007
Detroit — Gov. Jennifer Granholm announced last Wednesday that the American College Test will replace the Michigan Educational Assessment Program test in high schools beginning with the class of 2008. The ACT will be administered to all Michigan 11th-graders during the spring before their high school senior year, The Detroit News reported.

The ACT is a college entrance exam currently required by all state colleges in Michigan, according to The News. Currently, students who choose to take the test have to pay a $70 fee, but the state says it will pay that cost when the ACT becomes Michigan's official high school proficiency test. The state plans to use the ACT to determine the winners of the Michigan Merit Award scholarship and to measure high schools' Adequate Yearly Progress under No Child Left Behind after the change receives approval from the U.S. Department of Education.

The News reported that the MEAP was never intended to be a college admissions test. Even in high-performing districts, some students opted not to take the MEAP because it would not help them get into college, but a bad score might reflect poorly on their record. Gov. Granholm said, "To compete in a global economy, our students must continue their education beyond high school. To make this expectation a reality, we must give students the tools they need to succeed including the opportunity to take a college entrance exam."

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Mike Flanagan said he expects the switch from MEAP to ACT to "increase ... the number of students who choose to continue their education beyond high school," according to The News. But some parents are not thrilled about the government mandating a college entrance exam. The News reported that Dawn Gietzen, a parent in Macomb Township, believes that college is important but, "Parents should step in and guide (students) in the right direction."

SOURCE:
The Detroit News, "ACT to replace MEAP in 2007," Sept. 22, 2005
http://www.detnews.com/2005/schools/0509/23/B01-323617.htm

FURTHER READING:
Michigan Education Digest, "Group looks to replace MEAP with ACT," Dec. 23, 2003
http://www.educationreport.org/6059

Michigan Education Report, "Which Educational Achievement Test is Best for Michigan?" Early Fall 2002
http://www.educationreport.org/4622

Mackinac Center for Public Policy, "How Does the MEAP Measure Up?", Dec. 18, 2001
http://www.mackinac.org/3919

DETROIT DROPOUT PROGRAMS ENCOURAGE KIDS TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL
Detroit — Three Detroit Public Schools programs, in conjunction with community and church leaders, are helping Detroit high school dropouts go back to school and learn valuable skills, according to The Detroit News.

DPS and some Detroit-area community groups are targeting 17- to 19-year-old dropouts to help them regain educational focus with mixed traditional and vocational classes, The News reported. Some programs are using later start times and more computer instruction to get kids interested in returning to school.

Last Chance, a program operated by the Detroit Association of Black Organizations, focuses on giving dropouts a combination of GED and skilled training. According to The News, Last Chance students work on building-trade projects such as renovating Detroit area homes. Rev. Horace Sheffield III, who runs Last Chance, told the newspaper, "We are bringing kids back into the public schools. It's a positive."

Detroit's Urban Arts Academy is also working closely with dropouts who want to pursue a return to education. The organization, run by the Detroit Hispanic Development Corp., is focused on academics, paired with art and animation, according to The News. Urban Arts is teaching former dropouts marketable skills ranging from computer animation to music production.

Another program, Middle College Academy, is helping students by using technology in the classroom. Rev. Jim Holley, who runs the Middle College program, told The News that some students are embarrassed by what they do not know. "A computer doesn't intimidate you like a teacher or a classroom does. Lots of kids don't participate in class for fear of what they don't know." Middle College focuses on students who typically need two years of instruction to complete their diploma. Middle College students also work part-time.

According to The News, DPS graduates less than 50 percent of its students in four years. It is estimated that there are more than 100,000 people between the ages of 16 and 24 in Michigan who are not in school and do not have a diploma, The News reported. DPS expects to lose 10,000 students this year. District CEO William Coleman III told The News that the district is focusing on educating eighth- and ninth- graders about DPS's vocational programs, analyzing their suspension policies and setting goals for truant officers, according to The News. Currently, Last Chance, Urban Arts and Middle College are serving hundreds of Detroit youths, but each of the programs plans to expand in the near future.

SOURCE:
The Detroit News, "Dropouts go back to school," Sept. 22, 2005
http://www.detnews.com/2005/schools/0509/23/B01-323615.htm

FURTHER READING:
Michigan Education Digest, "Census data shows troubling amounts of dropouts," June 8, 2004
http://www.educationreport.org/6665

Michigan Education Report, "High School Dropout Changes Course and Changes Students' Lives as Public School Teacher," Spring 1999
http://www.educationreport.org/1672

GOVERNOR'S LETTER CALLS ON AUTHORIZERS TO IMPROVE CHARTER PERFORMANCE
Lansing, Mich. — In a letter to charter school authorizers last week, Gov. Jennifer Granholm said she was concerned about a "troubling pattern of low performance," according to Booth Newspapers.

The letter was sent to 11 university and community college presidents, reported Booth. Granholm urged the university heads to put pressure on charter school management companies who in her view are not meeting performance standards.

According to Booth, roughly three-quarters of Michigan's 220 charter schools are managed by for-profit companies, the most of any state in the country.

Jim Goenner, executive director of Central Michigan University's charter school office, told Booth, "I'm a little puzzled. I don't think the data represents a troubling trend. It represents an improving trend." Gongwer News Service reported that Goenner was just returning from an annual conference on the topic of optimizing charter school performance when he was reached for comment. "We must have read the governor's mind," he told Gongwer.

Booth reported that last year, 82 percent of Michigan charter schools made the federal Adequate Yearly Progress standard, up from 61 percent only a year before.

Granholm is also concerned about accountability, calling the charter school's lack of a corresponding home district a missing link, according to Booth. However, Dan Quisenberry, executive director of the Michigan Association of Public School Academies, told Booth that he considers the universities' responsibilities over the charter schools they authorize an "additional link" in the chain of oversight, not a "missing link."

According to Gongwer, many of the university charter school authorizers said that they had been working on improving performance even before the governor's letter last week. Goenner told Gongwer, "We are on the leading edge of where educational measurement is going."

SOURCES:
Booth Newspapers, "Charter schools need to shape up, Granholm says," Sept. 23, 2005
http://www.mlive.com/news/statewide/index.ssf?/base/news-6/1127470213246780.xml&coll=1

Gongwer News Service, "Granholm calls on charter authorizers to aid school improvement," Sept. 22, 2005
http://www.gongwer.com/programming/news_articledisplay.cfm? article_ID=441840105&newsedition_id=4418401&locid=1&link=news_articledisplay.cfm? article_ID=441840105%26newsedition_id=4418401%26locid=1 (subscription required)

FURTHER READING:
Mackinac Center for Public Policy, "Charter Schools Don't Need More Michigan Department of Education 'Oversight,'" Aug. 12, 2003
http://www.mackinac.org/5670

Mackinac Center for Public Policy, "When Will Conventional Public Schools Be as Accountable as Charters?" Aug. 16, 2004
http://www.mackinac.org/6724

Mackinac Center for Public Policy, "Setting a Higher Standard of Accountability in Public Education," Nov. 12, 2001
http://www.mackinac.org/3848

GREENVILLE SCHOOL BUSES TO BEGIN USING BIODIESEL
Grand Rapids, Mich. — The Grand Rapids Press reported last week that Greenville Public Schools will begin using biodiesel fuel in their buses. The environmentally motivated move is being promoted as a money-saving measure.

According to The Press, diesel fuel prices jumped more than 30 percent between the end of last school year and the beginning of the new school year. Greenville Transportation Director Joe Knight told the newspaper, "We had budgeted for an eight percent increase, but we weren't expecting to pay that much. If prices continue to climb, we could be looking at spending an extra $40,000 for fuel." So the district now plans to switch over gradually to biodiesel.

The diesel that Greenville wants to use is B-20 fuel, which is 20 percent soybean oil and 80 percent diesel, according to The Press. The local distributor, Petersen Oil and Propane, says that the fuel provides significant protection against engine wear and burns cleaner than conventional diesel. Jill Blair, Petersen's bulk facilities manager, said, "We're one of the first distributors in the area to make this product available, and Greenville will be our first school customer to try it."

Knight said that Greenville buses drove 376,000 miles last year at roughly $3.20 per mile per bus in total costs. Considering that cost, Knight told The Press, "You look to save money wherever you can."

According to The Press, St. Johns Public Schools was the first Michigan school district to use biodiesel beginning in 2002. St. Johns' head mechanic told The Press that the district is saving about $3,000 a year with the fuel, and that performance has improved: "We have experienced very positive results using a B-20 blend in our fleet. Our buses don't have the exhaust soot on the back that has to be scrubbed off, and the fleet average fuel mileage has increased from 8.1 to 8.8 miles per gallon."

Soy diesel currently costs slightly more than conventional diesel, but The Press reported that districts like Greenville are banking on a future increased demand for the fuel and the reduced maintenance costs that biodiesel could bring to save money in the long run.

SOURCE:
The Grand Rapids Press, "Buses bank on biodiesel to cut costs," Sept. 22, 2005
http://www.mlive.com/news/grpress/index.ssf?/base/news-25/1127402133249560.xml&coll=6

FURTHER READING:
Mackinac Center for Public Policy, "The Six Habits of Fiscally Responsible Public School Districts," Dec. 3, 2002
http://www.mackinac.org/4891

HOLLAND TEACHERS PREPARE FOR STRIKE
Holland, Mich. — The Holland Sentinel reported last Friday that Holland teachers are getting ready for a possible labor standoff with Holland Public Schools. The Michigan Education Association and its local bargaining unit in Holland are concerned that the district might "illegally impose" a contract on the 340 district teachers, according to the newspaper.

The MEA has set up a "crisis center" in Holland, and teachers were seen there picking up t-shirts and making signs, The Sentinel reported. Employees of public schools are prohibited by law from striking in Michigan.

Martin Lankford, an MEA representative, told The Sentinel, "If the school board imposes a contract or a portion of the contract on the teachers, this bargaining unit will consider all of its options," which, according to Lankford, include a strike.

The Sentinel reported that MEA and National Education Association personnel from the Traverse City area and Florida arrived in Holland this week to offer strike training sessions for teachers and to monitor the situation. HPS Superintendent Frank Garcia told The Sentinel, "I would be disappointed if our teachers would participate in any illegal activity. I'm also surprised the HEA and MEA would bring outsiders from as far away as Florida to assess our community."

A major issue stalling negotiations is health insurance and benefits, according to The Sentinel. The district says that it will be bankrupt in two years if they implement the teachers' demands. Teachers have been working without a contract since Aug. 31. The next bargaining session is Sept. 28.

SOURCE:
The Holland Sentinel, "Teachers gear up for labor struggle," Sept. 23, 2005
http://hollandsentinel.com/stories/092305/local_20050923001.shtml

FURTHER READING:
Michigan Education Digest, "Holland district concerned about possible illegal teacher strike," Sept. 20, 2005
http://www.educationreport.org/7358

MUSKEGON-AREA PARENTS LIKE CHARTER SCHOOLS AS ALTERNATIVE
Muskegon, Mich. — According to The Muskegon Chronicle, parents in that part of Michigan are happy with the education alternative they find in area charter schools.

An article published in The Chronicle on Sunday, Sept. 18 noted that the fear that many charter schools would take the best students from conventional public schools has not been realized. In 2004-5, seven charter schools in the Muskegon area had a total enrollment of 1,833 students, The Chronicle reported. Some are from families struggling economically, while others simply were not satisfied at conventional public schools.

Parents seem to enjoy the alternative, according to The Chronicle. Many charter school staff members enjoy the constant parental contact. Charter schools also typically offer a small classroom atmosphere, which many parents appreciate.

According to The Chronicle, some teachers and staff work in charter schools simply because they are drawn to their unique environment. Terri Garza, a reading aide who works at Timberland Charter Academy, told The Chronicle, "My friends who are teachers in other schools always question why I don't go to public schools, but I say, 'Give me a reason to.'" Shannon Nash, a teacher at Timberland, likes working in a charter school because, "I can be free in how I use the curriculum, and the small classes allow me to make more of an impact on learning."

Parents Dave and Karen Glick told The Chronicle that their son at Three Oaks Public School Academy "will not go anywhere else." He was bullied in their district's public school, but now has no problems at his smaller charter school. Karen Glick said, "When your kids get involved with something they like, and you see them growing, you'll do anything, endure anything and try anything for them."

Many charter schools have a dress code, limited sports options and do not offer transportation, but like conventional public schools, they do not charge tuition. According to The Chronicle, many parents simply see charters as their best option.

SOURCE:
Muskegon Chronicle, "Parents, students appreciate an alternative to public schools," Sept. 18, 2005
http://www.mlive.com/news/muchronicle/index.ssf?/base/news-7/1127038557263070.xml&coll=8

FURTHER READING:
Mackinac Center for Public Policy, "Time to Stop Beating Up on Charter Schools," Dec. 2, 2002
http://www.mackinac.org/4864

Michigan Education Report, "Report: Charter progress outpaces public high schools," Spring 2005
http://www.educationreport.org/7037

Mackinac Center for Public Policy, "School Choice Has Been Tried — And It Works!", Oct. 4, 1999
http://www.mackinac.org/2484

SCHOOL DISTRICT TAKES RESPONSIBILITY FOR BUS INJURY
Saginaw, Mich. — The Saginaw News reported last week that Carrollton Public Schools acknowledged the district is responsible for rider safety on their buses.

The statement came after kindergartener Marlon Wilkins Jr. fell asleep and missed his stop on his way home from school. His 10-year-old sister forgot he had begun full-day kindergarten and did not realize he was on the bus, The News reported. The driver called him twice when his sister got off the bus. After the driver learned Marlon had missed his stop, she had a student bring him to the front of the bus, but he again fell asleep in the front seat. When the driver braked, Wilkins was jostled out of his seat and cut his head on the bus floor, according to the newspaper.

The News reported that Marlon's mother, Maria, was angry with a district policy that states it is not the driver's responsibility to make sure children exit the bus at the correct stop.

Superintendent Craig C. Douglas told The News, "We accept responsibility for the kids' safety. We are very sorry he got a cut on his head. We are glad it was not a serious cut." Marlon Wilkins required brief medical attention, but was back at school two days later, according to The News.

SOURCE:
The Saginaw News, "Schools accept responsibility for students' safety on buses," Sept. 22, 2005
http://www.mlive.com/news/sanews/index.ssf?/base/news-16/11274042093460.xml&coll=9

FURTHER READING:
Mackinac Center for Public Policy, "The Parent Trap," July 1, 2005
http://www.mackinac.org/7153

MICHIGAN EDUCATION DIGEST is a service of Michigan Education Report (http://www.educationreport.org), a quarterly newspaper with a circulation of 140,000 published by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy (http://www.mackinac.org), a private, nonprofit, nonpartisan research and educational institute.

Contact Managing Editor Ryan Olson at [med@educationreport.org]

To subscribe or unsubscribe, go to:
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Related Topics: Education
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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
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Sun., March 14, 2010
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Sat., March 13, 2010
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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 >>