Archives for category: Michigan
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Why Failing Charters in Michigan Are Not Closed

By dianeravitch
June 8, 2013 //
31

This comment was posted in response to a report by Education Trust Midwest about Michigan’s expansion of low-performing (and failing) charter schools. The irony is that the original theory of charters was that they would either meet their goals or lose their charter. twenty plus years ago, no one considered the possibility that for-profit and even nonprofit charters would make political contributions and assemble a political base that outweighed the quality of the schools.

The reader writes:

“Yes, there are charters of varying quality. The problem in Michigan is that the state has no real authority to close a charter (even though it gets state money). A member of the state board of education noted in an article months ago (on the same topic) that it’s up to the authorizers to close the school. So in the case of a for-profit organization (like Leona Group) the only motivation to close a school would be a lack of profitability rather than a poor quality school.

Also understand that Michigan’s ideological legislature (particularly the House) doesn’t really care about school quality when it comes to charters. Charters don’t typically unionize and they underpay their teachers relative to public schools. This is in the interest of the legislature (and governor). So they really don’t mind that many charters underperform.

In 2011, Michigan passed many policies that seemed to make some sense. Public school couldn’t really debate accountability measures too hard. In some ways, those laws were well-intended. But the state’s magnificent investment in charter expansion and the money-pit EAA (which is getting so much outside money and additional state money that it is unbelievable) has revealed an ideological approach rather than an educational reform.

Charter schools have become the “out” for parents who want their kids away from other kids more than anything. Some charters are really just a way for churches to have a school funded by the state. One local charter is really just the kids from a local mega-church. As has been noted many times, charters are not a game changer. They vary in quality. This is particularly noteworthy in that the report comes from EdTrust who is no friend of public schools, by the way.”

Categories Charter Schools, Michigan, Privatization, Separation of church and state

Michigan Senate Bars Funding of Common Core Implentation

By dianeravitch
June 5, 2013 //
32

Last week, when the Michigan elite had its meet at Mackinac Island, Jeb Bush and Michelle Rhee warned about the importance of adopting Common Core. Michigan Governor Rick Snyder, who is a fervent opponent of public schools, has already endorsed the Common Core in a meeting with Arne Duncan.

But the Michigan state senate passed a budget bill that prevents the Michigan Department of Education from spending money on the Common Core.

Categories Common Core, Michigan

EdTrust: Failing Charters in Michigan Are Expanding

By dianeravitch
June 4, 2013 //
32

The theory behind charters was that they would produce better results or lose their charter.

Education Trust Midwest reports that this is not happening.

Low-performing charters are not closed. Instead, they are expanding.

Charter operators have learned how to work the political system to their benefit. Not so much for the kids.

Categories Charter Schools, Michigan

Michigan’s Bad Ideas, In Step with Race to the Top

By dianeravitch
May 21, 2013 //
30

The most noxious element of President Obama’s Race to the Top is the requirement that teachers should be evaluated to a significant degree by the test scores of their students.

By now, there is a large body of research that shows that this is a very bad idea, that the rankings based on test scores say more about who was in the class than the quality of the teacher.

But the idea of evaluation by test scores has been taken up with delight by the farthest right-wing state legislatures, the latest being Michigan.

Michigan has one of those legislative bodies that devotes considerable time to figuring out what they can take away from public schools and public school teachers.

And so now there is a bill to tie teacher compensation directly to test scores.

We know how this will end:

Teachers will teach to the test.

Schools will narrow the curriculum only to what is tested.

Some desperate teachers and/or administrators will cheat.

Some schools and superintendents will find ways to game the system.

Teachers will avoid the students who might drag down their rankings.

Some fine teachers will be fired because they taught the most challenging students.

Teachers will be demoralized by the abasement of their profession.

The only one who will look on these events with pleasure will be the architects of Race to the Top.

This is what they wanted.

And if they didn’t want it, they should stop it now. Admit their error.

How sad.

Categories Education Reform, Michigan, Teacher Evaluations, Teachers and Teaching, Testing

Marcie Lipsitt: Making Michigan Charters Obey the Law

By dianeravitch
May 19, 2013 //
19

A reader in Michigan insists that the for-profit charter operator in Muskegon Heights obey the law protecting students with disabilities. If every activist did the same, it would force the charters to serve all children. She should get the ACLU to help her.

“If you look up Michigan legislator in the thesaurus it directs you to “stupidity” with a footnote to see the Term Limit fiasco of 1992. That being said, for those against the Charter movement MI charters were delivered a fairly major setback this past Thursday.

“I filed a formal complaint this past January against the Mosaica-run Muskegon Heights Public School Academy (first all-charter district) pursuant to alleged violations to the IEPs of every student age 3-26 and on 10 substantive violations. The soup to nuts (or rotten eggs) of special education violations. The MI Dept. of Ed found NONCOMPLIANCE for ALL 10 allegations. The director of special education was fired 6 weeks ago over this complaint (and a second for children, birth to age 3 that will be out in several weeks) and corrective action that includes compensatory education for the students has been ordered.

“This complaint highlights (or lowlights) the complete failure of Mosaica and these Charters to deliver even a semblance of a free appropriate public education. I will next file a complaint with the U.S. Dept. of Ed Office of Civil Rights and allege the denial of FAPE. So while I have never met a parent in this regurgitated emergency manager-run district…score a victory for the children…and those of us fighting for public education.”

Categories Charter Schools, Michigan, Special Education

The Stupidity of the Michigan Legislature, Simply Explained

By dianeravitch
May 18, 2013 //
26

This blogger wants you to understand legislation that is sailing through the Michigan legislature.

The teachers’ pay will be based on whether student test scores go up.

Experience and degrees don’t matter.

Only test scores.

Is there any research that supports this idiotic policy?

No.

Thanks, Arne.

“He shot an arrow in the air….”

Categories Duncan, Arne, Michigan, Teacher Evaluations

Michigan Decides to Open Buena Vista Schools

By dianeravitch
May 16, 2013 //
4

Governor Rick Snyder found it in his heart or his budget to let the children of Buena Vista go to school again. The schools were closed for a week after the district went bankrupt. The state has a constitutional duty to provide public education to its children.

Governor Snyder has given billions of dollars in corporate tax breaks.

Categories Michigan

Michigan Officials Abandon Students in Buena Vista

By dianeravitch
May 13, 2013 //
26

The school district of Buena Vista, Michigan, is out of money. The schools are closed for the year. The district will offer “skills camp” to students.

The state of Michigan, which has a responsibility to provide a free public education to all children, has abandoned the students and their schools. The town and the schools are predominantly poor nd black. The town once thrived but started to die when the automobile industry collapsed. Nw those left behind have been betrayed by Governor Snyder.

The Congressman who represents Buena Vista is upset:

“The students of Buena Vista have a constitutional right to an education and deserve the same educational opportunities as other Michigan children, and that means being in a classroom full-time to complete their school year,” said Rep. Dan Kildee, a Democratic congressman who represents Buena Vista, on Monday. “I do not believe that a voluntary camp amounts to a proper education for the children of Buena Vista.”

Categories Closing schools, Michigan

Michigan Formula: Defund the Schools, Then Tie Teacher Pay to Scores

By dianeravitch
May 10, 2013 //
40

Here is the absurd consequence of the terrible ideas that have dominated education policy in the US. for the past 20 or so years.

The governor and legislators in Michigan have stripped more than a billion dollars from the public schools even as they better test scores. Now, as they plan to cut public school budgets even more, they want to tie teachers’ salaries to test scores.

The fact that test-based incentive have failed and failed and failed does not have any bearing on the state’s policymakers. No doubt they can claim they are marching in step with Arne Duncan, who believes that test scores must be a significant part of teacher evaluation.

The formula of slash and burn is not good for children, not good for schools, and not good for the quality of education. The tests will rule every decision. I wonder how many of the legislators could pass the tests that will determine the reputations and lives of teachers.

Categories Merit pay, Michigan, Testing

Will There Be a Graduation at Buena Vista?

By dianeravitch
May 10, 2013 //
6

Buena Vista schools in Michigan shut down abruptly in the face of a fiscal crisis, even though the teachers in the district offered to work for free.

There is no indication that Governor Rick Snyder will do anything to help the district.

In most states, the state government is responsible to be sure that all children have access to public education. Apparently not in Michigan.

Students are worried that they won’t graduate, won’t have a degree. What will happen to them?

The mostly black, mostly poor district was stranded when the auto industry folded.

A fourth-grade teacher asked a plaintive question:

“It’s truly unbelievable that we cannot educate our children,” she said. “So many people have fought and died in this country for the right for all children to go to school together. We’ve gone backwards in time.”

Categories Closing schools, Michigan
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