FLANAGAN BACKS BLENDING OF EDUCATION LEVELS

Gongwer News - September 8, 2009

As the State Board of Education prepares for discussions on improving the state's most academically destitute schools, Superintendent of Public Instruction Mike Flanagan is promoting a plan to give students more flexibility on when and how they complete their schooling.

The proposal, released Tuesday in a report by the K20 Pipeline Matters Council, of which Mr. Flanagan was a part, urges more flexibility in allowing students to move through grades and between educational institutions based on their personal rate of progress.

"Let kids progress through a new system when they're ready in a logical manner," Mr. Flanagan said. "And if a high school student completes the required credits after their second or third year, let them move on to post-secondary. Refocus those K-12 dollars onto preschool and elsewhere where we can get the biggest bang for the buck."

The 50-member council, convened by the Blackboard Institute, began its efforts with a focus on dual enrollment, which it found should be allowed in all school districts and through all higher education institutions, but urged also a less linear approach to education.

"We're going to have to move beyond our current boundaries, beyond this turf war of our current educational system," Mr. Flanagan said in the report.

But any changes will require policy shifts at all levels, the council said.

"My initial thought is that we need to influence public policy at the state and district levels, not only for the purpose of gaining greater investments for education, but also for demanding more accountability for results. Incentives and consequences must all be used to assure that investments made in education result in positive outcomes for learners," said Roberta Teahen, Ferris State University's vice president for academic affairs and a member of the council.

The council is continuing to develop its proposals through various workgroups.

The state board is planning discussions with legislative Education Committee chairs Sen. Wayne Kuipers (R-Holland) and Rep. Tim Melton (D-Auburn Hills), as well as U.S. Department of Education officials, on how to help the lowest performing schools come up to state standards. Discussions will include pending legislation in both chambers (SB 636, SB 637, SB 638, SB 639, HB 4787, HB 4789) as well as other policy changes.