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Michigan is above average – but that’s not saying much

Fri., February 23, 2007

Michigan education officials and Gov. Jennifer Granholm were happy to announce improved scores on state assessment tests this year, but there’s another number they should be looking at. In a new ranking developed by the Cato Institute in Washington, D.C., Michigan received a score of only 17 out of 100. Low as it is, the number is above the national average.

The Cato Education Market Index, released last month, rates the states on the ease with which parents can choose between public and private schools, the freedom schools have to set their own policies, and the extent of competition between schools to attract and retain students.

Michigan is hardly a competitive marketplace in education, but one bright spot is that it has a larger than average number of charter schools. Roughly 5 percent of Michigan students are enrolled in charter schools, compared to about 1 percent nationwide. Another plus factor in Michigan’s score is that the state’s public schools offer marginally more parental choice than those of other states. School choice programs allow parents to cross district lines, and enrollment figures from Detroit show that’s just what those parents are doing. Thousands of children assigned to the Detroit Public Schools district now attend nearby charter schools or public schools in other districts.

Michigan’s private education sector adds more weight on the side of educational freedom. Private schools in this state are not required, for example, to hire government-certified teachers – a credential that has been shown to do little or no good in raising student achievement. Unlike their public counterparts, whose teachers must obtain degrees from state-accredited colleges of education, private schools can decide for themselves who is best for the job.

But only 9 percent of Michigan students attend private schools. Most are enrolled in traditional public schools, where there is little incentive for innovation or improvement.

Here’s where Michigan loses points: The state has limited the number of charter schools that can be authorized by universities to 150, curtailing future growth, even though many existing schools have waiting lists. And, decisively, the state allocates approximately $7,000 per pupil a year for children’s education but insists that this only be used in government-run schools, ensuring that independent schooling is beyond the financial reach of many low- and middle-income families.

As many parents are finding out, Michigan simply doesn’t have a competitive, parent-driven marketplace in education.

If parental choice had no bearing on student achievement, this wouldn’t be a problem. But it does. The reason we developed the Cato Education Market Index is that competition and choice are associated with a range of important educational and social outcomes. International research shows that private schools forced to compete for students are more academically effective and less costly to operate than state-run schools. Our own research shows that higher ratings on our Cato Education Market Index are associated with higher academic achievement and higher graduation rates – even after controlling for differences in student and family characteristics between the states.

In school systems that have a monopoly on education, there is little incentive for teachers or administrators to innovate or to develop and disseminate best practices. In contrast, school managers in a competitive market have a powerful economic incentive to identify and nurture brilliant teachers.

Perhaps most importantly, free education markets in Michigan would not pit parent against parent in conflicts over school issues. Whether the school should have a Christmas tree, whether students should say the pledge of allegiance — all these decisions are much less controversial when parents freely choose the school they find most appropriate for their children. A recent Cato Institute study documents nearly 150 values conflicts caused by public schools in the 2005-06 school year alone.

Michigan could bring educational freedom to all of its families by implementing a system of universal education tax credits like the one advocated by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy. That would do a lot more for citizens than simply raising its score on our Education Market Index.

Andrew J. Coulson is director of education policy for the Cato Institute, and author of "The Cato Education Market Index." He blogs at
www.Cato-at-Liberty.org.

Michigan Education Daily
"Detroit Public Schools will end up with 100 fewer school buildings than it had in 2006 if a new closure plan is carried out." >>
"Most of the country's public schools would have more freedom under a proposed rewrite of the No Child Left Behind law." >>
"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." >>
"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." >>
"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." >>
"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." >>
"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
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. >>
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

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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 >>

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>.


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I AGREE >>
Godfrey-Lee on the west side of the state has been running all-day, every-day kindergarten for several years. >>
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/


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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.
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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?
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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 >>