Michigan has seen an increase in the state control of school systems. While distinctly trying to remedy issues within the management of school districts, it remains to be seen what impact, if any, these drastic interventions have on student achievement. The overall effect of these takeovers on student achievement remains unexamined. This article aims to gauge the overall effect of these interventions using emergency managers thus far in the State of Michigan.
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.
On Thursday, February 17, Governor Rick Snyder released his budget proposal for FY 2012 and FY 2013. Mr. Snyder has framed the controversial proposal as a "shared sacrifice." Furthermore, he and fellow Republicans portray the proposal as a necessary step to ameliorate Michigan's structural fiscal problems. They believe it is time to "stop kicking the can down the road." Conversely, Democrats, labor unions, various interest groups, and others have criticized the proposal as being unfair and an abandonment of investment in the state. One of the more contentious issues is education funding.
Over the preceding decade, Michigan lawmakers have made multiple attempts to pass anti-bullying legislation. To the chagrin of advocates of anti-bullying legislation, each attempt has ended in failure. Because of this Michigan remains one of only five states not to have passed anti-bullying legislation; granted, Michigan's State Board of Education recommends that schools adopt an anti-bullying program and has even provided a model anti-bullying program for school boards to adopt. But the lack of legislation has many concerned that school districts are not adopting anti-bullying measures and thus children are vulnerable.
K-12 Education
Legislature Moves to Expand Cyberschools in Michigan
Written by Jessica Pedersen
Monday, 31 October 2011 20:43
Supporters of Senate Bill 619 are looking to expand virtual charter schools to give parents of K-12 children more learning options.
Consequences of Declining Enrollment in Michigan Schools
Written by Alicia Adamczyk
Monday, 19 September 2011 21:16
Between 1995 and 2009, almost 61% of public school districts in Michigan experienced a decline in enrollment, and according to the Michigan Senate Fiscal Agency, schools may continue to face declining enrollment into 2012-13.
Michigan parents may soon find themselves with much more choice regarding their children’s education due to Senate Republicans’ Parent Empowerment Education Reform package, introduced Wednesday, September 7th.
On July 19, 2011, Governor Rick Synder signed into law a new teacher tenure bill that drastically changes the operations of teachers in Michigan. Teacher tenure was initially developed to protect teachers from arbitrary dismissal as well as demotion and salary reductions. However, many now view tenure as an immutable tool in keeping inefficient teachers in the classrooms. Opponents of teacher tenure argue that this job protection makes the removal of poorly performing teachers so difficult and costly that most teachers end up keeping their positions. Since tenure removes the fear of job loss, many believe it causes complacency. Most Republicans and supporters of the bill say that in order to have thriving and successful students you need to have successful teachers. State Rep. Mark Ouitmet (R) Scio-township said, “We need to make sure our most effective teachers remain in our classrooms so they can provide the best possible education for students.”
The Effects of Proposal A: Funding Michigan's Schools
Written by Janee Prince
Thursday, 23 June 2011 10:25
In 1994, Michigan legislators drafted and passed Proposal A: an education finance plan that resulted in drastic changes in the way public schools was funded. One of the main goals of Proposal A was to reduce inter-district spending disparities and eliminate educational inequality. Proposal A increased state aid to the lowest spending school districts and limited the future increases in spending in the districts that were already high spenders, thus abolishing local discretion over school funding. This was accommodated by a rise in the state sales tax, increasing it from four to six percent and reducing the reliance of school revenues on property taxes.
The Michigan Policy Network is a student-led public education and research program to report and organize news and information about the political process surrounding Michigan state policy issues. It is run out of the Department of Political Science at Michigan State University, with participation by students from the College of Social Science, the College of Communication, and James Madison College.
The thoughts, opinions, and positions represented herein are solely those of the participating students and in no way represent an official position or policy recommendation of Michigan State University.
Andy Chou and Andrew Revard are Education Policy Correspondents for the Michigan Policy Network. Andy is a first-year student in Economics at Michigan State University. Andrew is a senior in Political Science at MSU.
