Granholm

Contending he has had no voiced objections from either House leaders or officials within the Granholm Administration, House Education Committee Chair Tim Melton (D-Auburn Hills) said this week he would schedule hearings on his proposals that would allow the state to take control of failing schools. Under the provisions of House Bills 4787, 4788, and 4789, if a school fails to meet adequate yearly progress for four years and students are, based on test results, ranked at or below 35 percent proficiency in math and English, steps would have to be taken to improve the school’s performance. If the involved district cannot achieve the needed changes internally, then the state or an outside organization authorized by the state could assume the school’s operations.

Senate Appropriations School Aid Subcommittee members reviewed the status of the proposed 2009-10 budget Tuesday, but in the process heard some hard reminders of the condition of the state's schools.

The majority of school districts are seeing declining enrollments, the subcommittee heard.

And the number of school districts that are technically bankrupt is growing, with dozens with extremely thin financial reserves, they were also told.

The news was grim, committee members were told, and subcommittee chair, Sen. Ron Jelinek (R-Three Oaks), agreed.

The subcommittee also indicated some concerns that the House-passed version of HB 4447* and HB 4438* were larger than the 2009-10 budget proposals made by Governor Jennifer Granholm.

Board Requests Legislative Help

The State Board of Education today joined the growing call from education officials to lengthen the school year back to 180 days.

As a part of four requests the Board sent to the Legislature today, the Board asked lawmakers to require school districts hold a minimum of 180 days of school each year rather than simply requiring 1,098 hours of instruction.

The request comes after a survey of more than 750 public school districts and charter schools released last month by the nonpartisan Center for Michigan found that 98 percent of Michigan schools fall short of the 180-day standard across much of the country, something state Superintendent Mike FLANAGAN said at the time was "outrageous" (See "Districts Cutting School Days To Cut Costs," 3/16/09).

MEMORANDUM, March 26, 2009
TO: Local and Intermediate School District Superintendents, Public School Academy Directors
FROM: Sally Vaughn, Ph.D., Deputy Superintendent/Chief Academic Officer
SUBJECT: Regulatory Compliance of Education for Homeless Children and Youth Programs - School District Self-Assessment Tool

Governor Jennifer Granholm said this week she could support the concept of programs that would provide merit pay for teachers and expand the number of available urban schools of choice

March 20, 2009

BY CHRIS CHRISTOFF • FREE PRESS LANSING BUREAU CHIEF • FEBRUARY 5, 2009

A plan to boost the pensions of thousands of experienced teachers to entice them to take an early retirement has a formidable new opponent -- Gov. Jennifer Granholm.

In an interview with the Free Press on Wednesday, Granholm said she is concerned about the long-term impact the buyout would have on state finances to achieve a short-term savings.

STATE OF MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION - LANSING
JENNIFER M. GRANHOLM, GOVERNOR
MICHAEL P. FLANAGAN, SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION

MEMORANDUM

TO: Intermediate Local School District Superintendents, Local School District Superintendents, Public School Academy Administrators, Public School Academy Authorizers, Principals

FROM: Sally Vaughn, Ph.D., Deputy Superintendent/Chief Academic Officer

SUBJECT: Public Input on the Michigan School Accreditation System

For those in education hoping to hear the Governor talk about school funding, they were disappointed. If they were hoping to learn more about plans for the future they were not disappointed. Jobs drove the State of the State presentation last evening.

The only mention of new initiatives in education was this piece:"Beginning this summer, our Algebra for All initiative will give teachers across our state the professional development they need to teach algebra in a proven way that ensures all kids master it, whether they’re math whizzes or not."

She praised the Michigan Merit Curriculum and the Michigan Merit Examination. Making it very clear that these efforts were part of the development of a strong, highly skilled, Michigan workforce.

STATE OF MICHIGAN  DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION LANSING 

Dear Ms. xxx: