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MICHIGAN EDUCATION DIGEST
June 10, 2008

Contents of this issue:
  • Private schools work to keep tuition low
  • Many minority students don't graduate from high school
  • Detroit school receives grant for drug testing
  • Grand Rapids high schools adjust attendance policies
  • Parents seek special ed. changes
PRIVATE SCHOOLS WORK TO KEEP TUITION LOW
DETROIT — Many private schools in Michigan are facing decreasing enrollment due to the struggling economy, but are combating it by engaging in innovative fundraising and even freezing tuition for parents, according to the Detroit Free Press.

For example, the Detroit Waldorf School developed a payment plan in which parents discuss their financial situation with the school and develop appropriate payment. The two Cornerstone Schools in Detroit are using billboards and other forms of advertising to reach out to people willing to contribute $42 a month to sponsor a part of a student's $3,500 tuition, the Free Press reported.

While two Catholic schools are closing in the Detroit area, a new Catholic school, scheduled to open in the fall, will offer a mandatory work-study program so students work off much of their tuition, according to the Free Press.

"There is a perception that we're affluent and don't need any help," Dick Halsey, executive director for the Association of Independent Michigan Schools, told the Free Press. "There has been significant pressure on financial aid programs. ... Pressure is most felt in places where the tuition is lowest."

SOURCE:
Detroit Free Press, "Private schools boost efforts to help area families," June 6, 2008
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080606/NEWS06/ 806060426/1003/NEWS

FURTHER READING:
Michigan Education Report, "Painting the private school picture," May 12, 2000
http://www.educationreport.org/2890

MANY MINORITY STUDENTS DON'T GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL
LANSING, Mich. — A report from Education Week shows that many minority students, specifically black and Hispanic students, aren't graduating from high school, according to WLNS.

The report found that only one-third of Michigan's young black men graduated in 2005. The dropout problem isn't just about race, however, as about 20,000 Michigan students drop out of school annually, WLNS reported.

SOURCE:
WLNS TV 6, "More Minority Students Dropping Out of School," June 5, 2008
http://www.wlns.com/Global/story.asp?S=8435218&nav=0RbQ

FURTHER READING:
Michigan Education Report, "Privately managed public school academy raises achievement for minority students," May 30, 2002
http://www.educationreport.org/4371

DETROIT SCHOOL RECEIVES GRANT FOR DRUG TESTING
DETROIT — Detroit was awarded a federal grant for school-based random student drug testing, according to the Detroit Free Press.

The $165,300 Detroit receives is only a small chunk of the $5.8 million the federal government awards for such programs.

"Random student drug testing programs test students who opt into the drug testing program with their parents' or guardians' consent, participate in school athletic programs or engage in competitive, extracurricular, school-sponsored activities," according to Spellings' office, the Free Press reported.

SOURCE:
Detroit Free Press, "Detroit news briefs: City gets grant to test randomly for drug use," June 5, 2008
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2008806050339

FURTHER READING:
Michigan Education Digest, "U.S. Supreme Court to consider school drug testing policies," March 19, 2002
http://www.educationreport.org/4124

Mackinac Center for Public Policy, " 'The Wire': A Barbed Portrayal of Urban Public Schools," Oct. 24, 2006
http://www.mackinac.org/8012

GRAND RAPIDS HIGH SCHOOLS ADJUST ATTENDANCE POLICIES
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Teachers in Grand Rapids are no longer allowed to reduce a student's grade for lack of attendance, according to The Grand Rapids Press.

Teachers criticized the school board's claims that a student should not receive a lower grade if they can prove they know the material. The Grand Rapids teachers union said it thinks the move could be a ploy on the part of the school board to increase the number of passing students, especially since it was done so late in the semester, The Press reported.

Some educators are still skeptical.

"There's just no replacement for that student-teacher contact," Jenison High Principal Mark Dievendorf told The Press. "It's not just the delivery of instruction. It's the building of a relationship and the support and encouragement that helps students to succeed academically."

SOURCE:
The Grand Rapids Press, "Grand Rapids policy criticized, but more schools say attendance not essential," June 4, 2008
http://www.mlive.com/news/index.ssf/2008/06/grand_rapids_policy_criticized.html

FURTHER READING:
Michigan Education Report, "Should Michigan raise the compulsory school attendance age from 16 to 18? No," May 24, 2007
http://www.educationreport.org/8508

PARENTS SEEK SPECIAL ED CHANGES
LANSING, Mich. — The Michigan State Board of Education would regain a large share of authority over special education in the state if a parent activist can convince lawmakers to make the move.

Marcie Lipsitt of Franklin, parent of a son with special needs, is the main force behind House Bill 5323, which would rescind a 1996 executive order moving special education decision-making to the state superintendent of instruction.

Lipsitt and others say that an elected body would be more accountable to the public when it comes to decisions about providing special education services. They are particularly opposed to the superintendent having final say on alternate special education plans that allow school districts to increase class size or caseloads.

Special education administrators have said that alternate plans give them flexibility to provide services more effectively.

The bill would not ban such plans, but would require ISDs to obtain state board approval for them.

SOURCE:
Michigan Education Report, "Special ed parent: 'We have not had a voice,'" June 10, 2008
http://www.educationreport.org/9530

FURTHER READING:
Mackinac Center for Public Policy, "Operating monies for Special Education," in "A Michigan School Money Primer," May 30, 2007
http://www.mackinac.org/8581

Michigan Education Report, "Parents push for changes in special ed waiver system," Feb. 29, 2008
http://www.educationreport.org/9292

MICHIGAN EDUCATION 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 Sarah Grether at
mailto:med@educationreport.org

To subscribe or unsubscribe, go to
http://www.educationreport.org/pubs/mer/listserver.aspx?Source=MED

Related Topics: Education
Michigan Education Daily
Wed., September 1, 2010
"An aviation school in Michigan is one example of a new generation of public charter schools designed to serve niche audiences." >>
Tue., August 31, 2010
"A 10-year-old Windsor boy who completed part of his education in Michigan is being denied entry to public high school in Windsor even though he's completed the eighth-grade curriculum." >>
Mon., August 30, 2010
"Principal John Hoving is using Facebook as a way to promote Bay City All Saints Central School as well as to head off possible cyber bullying." >>
Sun., August 29, 2010
"Royal Oak Public Schools students will be featured in an Oct. 12 episode of MTV's "If You Really Knew Me," a cable television program that the producer describes as "students trying to be accepted for who they are."" >>
Sat., August 28, 2010
"Public schools in Michigan were offered an automatic "A" on part of their annual state report card this year, a one-time arrangement that may have spared some from being unaccredited." >>
Fri., August 27, 2010
"More than 1,000 teacher retirements will allow Detroit Public Schools to recall all teachers from layoff and hire up to 300 more to fill staffing gaps." >>
Thu., August 26, 2010
"Inland Lakes Schools is considering hiring a private firm to provide custodial services as a way to save money, but a union representative says that new federal funding makes such a move unnecessary." >>
User Comments
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
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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. >>
verdemont resident
This article is tucked away yet is profoundly correct. Parents are pseudo parenting little objects of consumption. Teens, professionals, working moms like the "idea" of a child but are not in for the long haul and everyone loses.

Schools are enabling parents to do precious little. The time parents spend with their children is the only thing that matters. Bussing needs to be cut, school breakfast, lunch, and afterschool care needs to be stopped. Parents will grow that bond by sacrificing the nails, hair, parties, drugs, quads, vacations, etc. and making a lunch for their child and arrangements to be home when the child is out of school. No one is that poor that they can't provide a boloney sandwich, a baggie of pretzels, an apple, 50 cents for a milk, and two cookies each day.

Please respond!

>>
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 >>