Tuesday, February 5, 2013
DETROIT FREE PRESS
Michigan awards $10M to districts for consolidation efforts
By Jennifer Chambers
The Michigan Department of Education announced Monday that $10 million in state grants are being awarded to local and intermediate school districts to help cover the costs of consolidating districts or consolidating services among districts.
Related story:
> AnnArbor.com:
Ypsilanti-Willow Run school district approved for $6.5M in consolidation grant money
MLIVE
By Tim Martin
LANSING, MI - Gov. Rick Snyder is expected to announce plans for “additional investment” in Michigan public education in his budget proposal this week, but it's likely to be a relatively small step toward restoring funding that has been cut over a period of several years in some categories.
ANNARBOR.COM
Ypsilanti-Willow
Run school board unanimously approves name for new consolidated district
By Danielle Arndt
The unified Ypsilanti-Willow Run school district is nameless no more. The joint Board of Education unanimously approved Monday calling the new consolidated district "Ypsilanti Community Schools."
Ypsilanti schools' human resource director 1 of 6 candidates in Tecumseh superintendent search
By Danielle Arndt
Ypsilanti Public Schools’ executive director of human resources is one of six semi-finalists in the search to replace Tecumseh Public Schools’ retiring superintendent.
BATTLE CREEK ENQUIRER
Battle Creek Public Schools school tax renewal on May 7 ballot
By
Karen Lynn Todd
Voters in the Battle Creek Public Schools district will be asked to go to the polls May 7 to vote on a millage renewal for the district’s future projects.
EDUCATION WEEK
Mich. School Chief Focuses on STEM Learning
By Erik W. Robelen
Veteran educator Linda S. Hicks arrived in 2010 to lead the city school district in Battle Creek, Mich. Capitalizing on its multinational food manufacturers and nearby research and training facilities, she immediately decided to tap the area's potential as a source of future STEM-focused jobs for many of her students.
Saturday-Monday, February 2-4, 2013
DETROIT FREE PRESS
An improving state economy? Not for
children in poverty
By Jane Zehnder-Merrell
Economists said the recession ended in 2009, but almost a quarter of a million children in southeast Michigan were impoverished in 2010, according to the just-released "Kids Count in Michigan Data Book." Poverty is defined as income less than $18,000 for a family of three and $23,000 for a family of four. Even a single person would have a hard time scraping by on income below those levels in the metro area. The negative impact of poverty on children is profound as family income shapes their physical, social and emotional development.
Related story:
> Database: Number of Michigan students eligible for free or reduced
lunch by school
DETROIT NEWS
'Pathways' paves opportunities
Gov. Rick Snyder's business roots show through in many of his plans for Michigan. He's about delivering goods to taxpayers — he considers them his customers — in the most efficient way possible. A new program that places state social workers directly in schools follows suit, offering children and their parents access to services in a place that's convenient. Snyder is working closely with the Department of Human Services to coordinate placement of social workers directly in schools, starting in four cities that could use the most help. Last fall, 21 schools in Flint, Pontiac, Saginaw and Detroit got a DHS employee to work with families.
Commentary: Invest in early education in Mich.
By Judy Y. Samelson
Michigan's new Great
Start to Quality rating and improvement system for child care and preschool programs directly addresses The News' Jan. 27 call for
the state to "Spend early education dollars wisely."
PORT HURON TIME HERALD
Memphis trying to get most tech for the buck
By Crystal
Garcia
MEMPHIS — Students at Memphis High School watch a lot of television — and that’s not a bad thing. The 60-inch televisions are used to help students learn. They were bought with money from a $950,000 bond passed in May.
Friday, Feb. 1, 2013
MLIVE
Debate
on school funding and achievement gap draws varying viewpoints
By Julie Mack
KALAMAZOO, MI -- What would it take to eliminate the academic
achievement gap between middle- and low-income children in Michigan?
School in Thumb takes online learning to the max
By Jo Mathis
| Bridge Magazine
Allison Ruiz was attending the Thanksgiving parade in downtown Detroit two months ago when she got a call from a
student with a homework question.
PORT HURON TIMES HERALD
By Crystal Garcia
The Port Huron Area School District has identified seven projects that will be completed with about $1.2 million in bond money surplus from earlier projects. The district has a surplus because bids for earlier projects were lower than anticipated and contingency funds were largely untouched.
Thursday, Jan. 31, 2013
DETROIT NEWS
We choose everything - why not our schools?
By Andrew Campanella
We make choices every hour of every
day. We choose what to watch on television. We choose the type of bread we buy and the type of milk we drink. We choose our cars,
our colleges, our careers and our candidates.
Related stories:
> Detroit News: Broader school choice may be Detroit's best hope
>
Detroit News: School choice has helped Michigan's children
MLIVE
When we talk about better schools and better teachers, let's
talk about better parents
By Matthew Davis
Perhaps the most damaging canard uttered with respect to public policy on education goes
something like this: We (read: taxpayers) need to invest (read: throw more money) in our public schools so that students are prepared
for the jobs of the 21st Century.
Snyder adviser, educator pull no punches before large audience at education summit
By Nancy
Derringer | Bridge Magazine
Oakland Schools Superintendent Vickie Markavitch and gubernatorial adviser Bill Rustem sat next to one another at a panel to discuss education issues Tuesday, but their views on education reform are still far apart – a distance that could play out in upcoming debates at the State Capitol over school legislation.
Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2013
MLIVE
Politicians
talk about school funding, but numbers show failure of effort
By Peter Luke | Bridge Magazine
Just how broken education spending in
Michigan is will once again be on display when Gov. Rick Snyder next week unveils his budget for the 2014 fiscal year on Feb. 7.
Snyder
adviser, educator pull no punches before large audience at education summit
By Nancy Derringer | Bridge Magazine
Oakland Schools Superintendent
Vickie Markavitch and gubernatorial adviser Bill Rustem sat next to one another at a panel to discuss education issues Tuesday, but
their views on education reform are still far apart – a distance that could play out in upcoming debates at the State Capitol over
school legislation.
State superintendent: $100,000 salary would lure more math and science teachers
By Brian McVicar
LANSING, MI
-- State Superintendent Mike Flanagan says bumping teacher salaries up to $100,000 would encourage more qualified math and science
students – as well as working professionals – to consider a career in education.
Related story:
> Port Huron Times-Herald: State
superintendent says teachers should make $100,000
Study: Michigan has 15th best charter school laws in the nation
By Brian McVicar
GRAND
RAPIDS, MI -- Michigan laws governing charter schools were ranked as the 15th best in the nation, according to a study released today
by a national charter school advocacy group.
ANNARBOR.COM
Ypsilanti superintendent 'cautiously optimistic' about new district's
finances
By Danielle Arndt
The Ypsilanti Public Schools didn't have to turn to pay-less paydays for teachers and staff during its low
cash-flow periods in December and January, leaving and Superintendent Dedrick Martin “cautiously optimistic” about finances.
NEWS-HERALD
Teachers
tentative agreement with cash-strapped district means layoffs, wage reductions
By David Komer
TAYLOR — The school district and its teachers’ union have tentatively agreed to a new contract. The agreement, which the sides reached Jan. 18, must be ratified by both the Board of Education and the Taylor Federation of Teachers. Terms of the deal were not immediately available.
Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2013
MLIVE
Experts
in STEM subjects teach Jackson High School students while learning to become teachers
By Leanne Smith
JACKSON, MI – It’s one thing to
learn about plant biology, chemistry, molecular biology and physics from a high school textbook. But it’s even better to combine those
textbooks with teachers who’ve spent time doing research and work in these fields.
Charter school leaders: Stanford study shows
Michigan charter students closing achievement gaps
By Cindy Schumacher
Michigan’s charter public school students are making larger
learning gains than their peers in traditional public schools, according to a new study.
By Julie Mack
KALAMAZOO, MI -- In theory, Michigan could largely eliminate the academic achievement gap between middle- and low-income students by spending at least 60 percent more per low-income student for targeted interventions, a Kalamazoo economist says.
Saturday-Monday, Jan. 26-28
DETROIT FREE PRESS
Education
advocates seek more money to make sure more kids can succeed in kindergarten
By Lori Higgins
Thousands of kids each year get their first taste of failure when they're forced to repeat kindergarten. That's fueling a push for the state to invest more money in preschool education for the state's neediest kids.
Related story:
> Detroit News: Editorial: Spend early education dollars wisely
More
Michigan schools adding Japanese to foreign language curriculum
Associated Press
Spanish and French are commonly taught in Michigan
schools. Japanese can be heard in classrooms, too. Japan's Consulate General in Detroit is reporting that 4,300 students are learning
Japanese at 56 Michigan schools, including some elementary schools.
Editorial: How Lansing can get in step with the people's
agenda for public education
The Center for Michigan, which describes itself as a "nonprofit, nonpartisan citizenship company," spent more than a year polling and interviewing Michiganders about their attitudes toward public schools. This week, the center published its findings in a 38-page report entitled "The Public's Agenda for Public Education."
Related stories:
> Detroit Free Press: Stephen
Henderson: For schools, Gov. Snyder should focus on families
> Detroit Free Press: DPTV's MiWeek: More on the Center for Michigan's
education report
MICHIGAN CATHOLIC
Archbishop: Schools’ purpose to bring world back to God
By Mike Stechschulte
Detroit — Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron told a cathedral packed full of students from the archdiocese’s Catholic schools Jan. 24 that their attendance at the annual Catholic Schools Week Mass meant much more than they thought it did.
MLIVE
Gov. Rick Snyder describes what Michigan can learn from one Grand Rapids
school
By Brian McVicar
GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- Gov. Rick Snyder praised administrators at Sibley Elementary School Friday for creating a program that brings state and nonprofit resources directly to students, a move that backers say has boosted attendance and improved academic performance.
By Eric Chiu
DAVISON, MI -- Davison Community Schools officials have announced two informational meetings in advance of a Feb. 26 election for an $11.9 million bond proposal to renovate Central Elementary School.
BATTLE CREEK ENQUIRER
A look at local school
choice, in honor of National School Choice Week
National School Choice Week happens Jan. 27 to Feb. 2, according to a booklet mailed to me by organizers of the event.
NEWS-HERALD
SOUTHGATE: School deficit to grow next year, be eliminated after following two years
By
Alan Burdziak
SOUTHGATE — The school district’s deficit will increase $1 million after this fiscal year but is expected to be eliminated over the next two.
Friday, January 25, 2013
MLIVE
Gov. Rick Snyder to tour Sibley elementary school in Grand Rapids this
morning
By Brian McVicar
GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- Gov. Rick Snyder is participating in a tour of Sibley Elementary School this morning, which has been praised by state leaders for its partnership with nonprofit and state social service agencies.
How does Michigan
rank on spending for K-12 schools?
By Chris Andrews | Bridge Magazine
Michigan will spend about $13 billion on K-12 education this year – the single largest use of state revenue.
Parents are eager to help their children -- and help teachers help their children
By
Nancy Derringer | Bridge Magazine
Ask Sally Wiggins to describe her role in her daughters’ education, and she starts at the beginning.
Michigan
residents strongly back increased investment in early childhood classes
By Ron French | Bridge Magazine
Nobody needs to convince Kelly Hart of the importance of early childhood education. The Flushing woman is the mother of five children who’ve gone through the Great Start Readiness Program, the state-funded preschool for 4-year-olds from low- and moderate-income families.
Michigan school funding
proposal would seek more financial equality among districts
By Tim Martin
LANSING, MI – A Republican state senator is introducing proposals that he says are aimed at making public education funding more equal across Michigan.
ANNARBOR.COM
Ann Arbor Superintendent Patricia
Green pushes forward on school district's 8 goals
By Danielle Arndt
Online classes for all grades and an in-house International Baccalaureate program are being explored as part of the Ann Arbor Public Schools' renewed effort to follow its eight strategic goals.
3 names
emerge as finalists for new Ypsilanti-Willow Run school district
By Danielle Arndt
Geography won out in the process to select a name for the new consolidated Ypsilanti-Willow Run school district that launches in July.
Related story:
LIVINGSTON COUNTY DAILY PRESS & ARGUS
By Wayne Peal
High school graduation rates rose as the recession deepened, according to a new national report, while state figures indicate graduation rates for Livingston County students far outstrip state and national averages.
Hartland school officials likely to OK solar site
By Wayne Peal
A proposed solar-energy farm in Hartland Township appears to be back on track. Hartland Consolidated Schools officials are expected Monday to approve the slightly modified project, which would allow DTE energy to construct solar panels on a site near Hartland High School.
Thursday, January 24, 2013
MLIVE
Center for Michigan report shows public wants to help teachers improve
By Ron French | Bridge Magazine
The
best way to improve schools is to improve the skills of the person standing in the front of Michigan classrooms. Teaching teachers
to do their jobs better is the education reform Michigan residents believe will most improve our schools, according to the largest
effort ever to collect and analyze public opinion on K-12 education in Michigan.
Related stories:
> MLive: Assessing teacher performance
proves harder than thought, report shows
> Detroit News: Editorial: Focus on teaching our teachers
> Livingston County Daily Press
& Argus: Lawmakers say more education reforms coming
After 2012 defeat, Grandville Schools regroups with proposed $75.2 million
bond request
By Brian McVicar
GRANDVILLE, MI -- Grandville Public Schools is pursuing a $75.2 million bond proposal, a “transformational”
investment that would help expand and renovate buildings, improve technology and strengthen security, administrators say.
DETROIT FREE PRESS
Schools could become hubs for many state social services
By Paul Egan
LANSING -- Schools could become new hubs for state services
including welfare, child protection, job assistance, and even those related to vehicle registrations and driver's licenses, government
officials said Wednesday.
Related stories:
> Detroit News: Michigan social workers using schools as service hubs
> MLive: State
social worker program ramps up in Detroit, Flint, Saginaw and Pontiac public schools
ANNARBOR.COM
By Danielle Arndt
After a lengthy and wide-ranging discussion
Wednesday night, Ann Arbor school board members consented to creating an ad hoc committee to study the district's contracting policies,
practices and outcomes.
LANSING STATE JOURNAL
Globetrotter dishes out advice about bullying to Lansing students
By Ken Palmer
Buckets Blakes usually plies his trade on a basketball court. But on Wednesday, the Harlem Globetrotters guard held court at a Lansing elementary school, dishing out advice about bullying and academics along with some signature Globetrotters ball-handling tricks.
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
DETROIT FREE PRESS
Michigan lawmakers, residents have different education reform priorities
By Lori Higgins
Many
Michigan lawmakers see school choice and online learning as keys to improving the state’s education system, but a year-long survey
of Michigan residents released today shows a disconnect between what lawmakers want and what the public wants.
Related stories:
>
Detroit News: Michigan public schools fare poorly in statewide study
> MLive: Survey says: Center for Michigan report details public
education agenda
>
MLive: Online ed expansion, school choice plan murky in 2013
MLIVE
Deal to bring Chinese students to West Michigan schools falls
apart
By Brian McVicar
GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- A Chinese education group told the Kent County Intermediate School District that it’s no
longer pursuing a cultural emersion program where students from the Asian nation would come to West Michigan to pursue a high school
education.
Jackson Community College trustees expected to vote on proposed charter school
By Leanne Smith
JACKSON, MI – Jackson
Community College trustees are expected to vote today on whether or not to authorize a charter school that's being proposed for its
campus.
Orchard View school board to cut teacher pay by 5 percent after declaring impasse
By Lynn Moore
MUSKEGON, MI -- The Orchard
View school board plans to impose a 5 percent salary cut on teachers after declaring an impasse in contract negotiations.
By Tom Haroldson
PORTAGE,
MI — The Portage Public Schools Board of Education said former Superintendent Richard Perry engaged in several acts of misconduct
all stemming from his “extramarital affair” with the district’s former human resources director.
DETROIT NEWS
Study: Michigan
supports funding increase for early childhood programs
By Chad Livengood
Lansing — Gov. Rick Snyder said Tuesday he will ask the Legislature
to undertake a "significant phase-in" of 29,000 4-year-olds into public preschool programs over the next few years, an annual investment
of $130 million.
PORT HURON TIMES HERALD
By Crystal Garcia
So far, so good for Blue Water Middle College students — they are earning an A or A- in nearly half of the college classes in which they are enrolled.
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
MLIVE
Report: Michigan ranks 10th among states increasing funding to higher education
By Yvonne Zipp
KALAMAZOO, MI – Michigan was among 30 states increasing appropriations for higher education during this fiscal year, according to the results of an annual survey reported Jan. 21 in The Chronicle of Higher Education.
Attention Oakridge parents: Now's the time to stand up and be heard
By Lynn Moore
EGELSTON TOWNSHIP, MI -- Oakridge Public Schools leaders want to hear from the community as it develops its priorities for the next three to five years.
By Julie Mack
PORTAGE, MI -- Patricia Koeze started Jan. 14 as superintendent of a Muskegon charter school, but that's news to school officials at Portage Public Schools, where Koeze remains on the payroll as human resources director.
Some
Portage school employees to get one-time payment in March
By Julie Mack
PORTAGE, MI – Portage Public Schools Board of Education has approved a one-time payment in March for employees who are not part of the Portage Education Association.
Message sent: Fix schools,
send us the bill
By Ron French | Bridge Magazine
Michigan residents want better schools -- and they think the state will have to spend more to get them. That’s among the findings of the largest effort ever to collect and analyze public opinion on K-12 education in Michigan.
ANNARBOR.COM
Ypsilanti-Willow Run approve budget amendments, deficit elimination plans totaling $11.9M
By Danielle Arndt
Willow Run and Ypsilanti public schools amended their budgets and approved their final individual deficit elimination plans Monday night. Now school officials will wait for word from the state on the new consolidated district’s debt repayment period.
LIVINGSTON COUNTY
DAILY PRESS & ARGUS
Disqualification is lifted for area online students
By Jim Totten
Pinckney students taking classes online can breathe a little easier after the state granted an appeal from the school district.
Saturday-Monday, January 19-21, 2013
DETROIT NEWS
Group gives Michigan 'A' for support of charter schools
Michigan earned an "A" for its charter school laws, according to a report
card issued this week by the Center for Education Reform. The organization issues the assessment annually, ranking states according
to the strength and quality of their charter school laws. Michigan was ranked No. 4 on this year's list, up from No. 5 last year.
The top four all received a letter grade of "A" on the report card, including Washington, D.C., Minnesota and Indiana.
Related story:
>
Detroit News: Editorial: Michigan's charters make the grade
MLIVE
Jackson Community College trustees to continue talks, possibly
vote on proposed charter school
By Leanne Smith
JACKSON, MI – Jackson Community College trustees are expected to vote Tuesday on whether
or not to authorize a charter school proposed for its campus.
Related story:
> MLive: Editorial: Jackson Community College board
should say no to proposed charter school
Portage Public Schools looks to move forward following another round of turmoil
By Julie
Mack
PORTAGE, MI -- Portage Central High School's vaunted theater program is in the midst of rehearsals for "Beauty and the Beast."
Portage Northern High School is getting ready for Winterfest. Students at Woodland Elementary are raising money this week for research
into food allergies.
Snyder's call for early childhood funds draws applause from advocacy groups, legislators
By Chris Andrews
| Bridge Magazine
Thousands of low-and moderate-income children took a step closer to the preschool classroom with Wednesday night's
call for additional early childhood investment by Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder in his State of the State address.
PORT HURON TIMES HERALD
Parents, kids get help for ACT test
By Crystal Garcia
Randa Jundi-Samman wanted other parents to know how important the ACT is
for their children’s futures. That’s why she approached officials of the KnowHow2Go for help.
LIVINGSTON COUNTY DAILY PRESS &
ARGUS
50 Livingston County online students are DQ'd
By Jim Totten
Officials from two Livingston County school districts believed they were following the rules for overseeing a virtual academy where students take classes online. Students were logging into their classes, emailing their teachers, doing well in the classes and receiving credit.
Friday, January 18, 2013
DETROIT FREE PRESS
Bullied
West Branch teen reflects on homecoming, news media coverage
By Mackenzie Burger
ALGER — It has been several months since 16-year-old Whitney Kropp stood tall on the football field and faced a packed stadium during the Ogemaw Heights High School homecoming coronation.
Commentary:
Governor needs to commit to funding early education
By Doug Luciani and Debbie Dingell
As a former venture capitalist, Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder knows much about how to calculate return on investment. We applaud him for seeing the return on investment in young children.
Related
story:
> Huffington Post: Obama Evaluating Early Childhood Education Push In Second Term
STUDENTANDEDUCATOR
Solutions To School
Dropouts Should Be Coordinated With Outside Agencies
The fifth in a new series of two- and three-page briefs summarizing relevant findings in education policy research advises policymakers on how to decrease dropout rates. Research continues to show most risk factors influencing student dropout rates are centered outside of school, which is why it is critical for schools to coordinate with service agencies to solve the dropout crisis.
MLIVE
Otsego scholarship program inspired by Kalamazoo Promise, family attorney says
By Julie Mack
OTSEGO, MI -- The Kalamazoo Promise was the inspiration for siblings Ruth and Emil Popke Jr. to create a new scholarship program for Otsego High School graduates, says Bill Vandersalm, the Popkes' attorney.
ANNARBOR.COM
Ann Arbor school trustees decide against facilitator
to help them get along
By Danielle Arndt
The Ann Arbor Public Schools Board of Education is attempting to make progress on its goal
of trust and relationship building. Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com file photo
Ann Arbor school board members rejected spending money on a facilitator to help them tackle their No. 1 board goal of trust and relationship building.
More than 280 names proposed
for consolidated Ypsilanti-Willow Run school district
By Danielle Arndt
The list of 285 proposed names submitted for the Ypsilanti-Willow Run consolidated school district must be whittled down to one by Feb. 4.
Search continues for new executive director of Ann Arbor
Public Schools educational foundation
By Danielle Arndt
It is unclear when the nearly $1.2 million endowment organization that raises private funds to support education at the Ann Arbor Public Schools will have a new executive director.
BATTLE CREEK ENQUIRER
Math
& Science Center students catch the spirit of innovation
By Justin A. Hinkley
What if the cap on your milk jug could tell you exactly when your milk had spoiled, or the wastewater from your dishwasher or toilet could help power your house?
BATTLE CREEK ENQUIRER
8
years ago, schools got an “F” for safety
A little over eight years ago, the Calhoun Intermediate School District and its member schools were given a failing grade for school security.
LIVINGSTON COUNTY DAILY PRESS & ARGUS
Students divided on gun measures
By Wayne
Peal
Constitutional experts are divided on President Barack Obama's recent action on gun control — not just the ones in the nation's capital, but the ones at Howell High School as well.
Thursday, January 17, 2013
MLIVE
Gov. Rick Snyder focuses on improving
roads and schools, but critics say they want details
By Dave Murray
LANSING, Mich. – No one likes Michigan’s roads and the results from some of its schools are “unacceptable,” Gov. Rick Snyder said, calling for new fees for cars and “creative” ideas to pay for early childhood education.
ANNARBOR.COM
Trimesters or semesters? Ann Arbor officials consider Skyline High School's structure
By Danielle Arndt
The Ann Arbor school district soon will debate whether to change Skyline High School, pictured here, to a semester calendar, like the two other comprehensive high schools, or to leave it as a trimester, three-marking period school.
PATCH
New Conflict
of Interest Act Not an Issue for Brighton Area Schools
By Nicole Krawcke
Brighton Area School Board Trustee John Conely voiced some concerns over the new conflict of interest act and how it applies to the district during Monday night's meeting. The new act was signed by Gov. Rick Snyder last week.
HUFFINGTON POST
Charter School Growth In Michigan Brings Cautionary Tale On Quality
Charter schools are the fastest-growing sector of public education, taking root in most U.S. states, thanks to a big push by the education reform lobby and the federal government's Race to the Top competition. And since the movement's inception in the early 1990s, its founders have learned a few things.
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
DETROIT FREE PRESS
Michigan granted flexibility for students who fail
MEAP, but show improvement
By Lori Higgins
The U.S. Department of Education has given it's OK to state officials to allow students who fail state exams - but whose scores show significant improvement - to be counted as passing for state accountability purposes.
MLIVE
John
Austin re-elected president of Michigan's State Board of Education
By Tim Martin
LANSING, MI - John Austin, a Democrat from Ann Arbor, has been unanimously re-elected president of Michigan’s State Board of Education by his colleagues.
ANNARBOR.COM
Chelsea schools'
bond refinancing saves district $1.4 million
By Danielle Arndt
Chelsea School District’s refinancing of its 2004 school building and site bonds is expected to save the district more than $1.4 million, according to a Chelsea Standard report.
