In March of 2011 Governor Rick Snyder enacted Public Act Four, which allowed for governor appointed Emergency Managers to take control of financially failing cities and the school districts that resided inside of them. In May of 2011, not too long after Public Act Four's enactment, Detroit Public Schools were handed over to newly appointed Emergency Manager Roy Roberts. Then, that following June, Governor Rick Snyder and State Superintendent of Public Instruction Mike Flanagan announced their outline for education reform for the lowest performing Michigan schools (Detroit Public Schools, 2011). From their goals and outlines came what would soon be called the Education Achievement Authority- with the stated goal to "Redesign public education in Michigan's lowest performing schools by driving more resources directly into their classrooms and offering great autonomy to help ensure student achievement increases." (Eastern Michigan University, 2010).

One of the most important pieces of legislation that will be discussed by the Michigan legislature this year is the role and possible expansion of the Education Achievement Authority (EAA). The EAA is the state run agency that takes over low performing schools and attempts to turn them around. Advocates for the EAA say that the greater flexibility given to schools allows them to innovate teaching styles and lower costs through contracting out services, such as custodial work. Those critical of the EAA claim that the state takeover of schools removes local input and allows the state to sell schools to for-profit management companies. This is sure to be a contentious issue with the EAA playing an important role in the upcoming policy discussions.

Public Act 4 allows the Governor to appoint Emergency Managers for both cities and school districts. Muskegon Heights is a school district where Governor Snyder appointed an EM, Donald Weatherspoon. While acting as Emergency Manager, Weatherspoon contracted out management of the city's schools to a group called Mosaica Education. This for-profit charter operation operates close to fifty schools globally (including six others in Michigan) and, according to Michigan Radio, their contract includes "athletics, band, special education, and bussing."  According to the MEA, Weatherspoon said he chose Mosaica because of "high standards for academic performance and research-based methods for supporting students that need assistance."

Recently, Michigan's waiver for the No Child Left Behind Act was approved. Now, even though the state does the requirements set by the act, Michigan has promised several other changes to its education system. Despite the still difficult to achieve goals, Michigan's Superintendent, Mike Flanagan, is positive as he comments on the waiver: "This is a great news for our students and our schools, [this] will help us continue our efforts to get all kids career- and college- ready." The more freedom allowed to the state in how it decides to use federal dollars plays a big part in this positive attitude. This waiver would not have been necessary, however, if all the states in the U.S. were not under immense pressure to complete the demands of the No Child Left Behind Act.