Oxford Foundation Proposes Drastic Changes to High School

The Oxford Foundation has rolled out the latest and most sweeping recommendations regarding their efforts to rewrite the School Aid Act in a document entitled "Disaggregating High School Education." When combined with the recently introduced HB 5923, the proposed model would create a fragmented school structure in which students would essentially use their foundation allowance like a public-school voucher to purchase classes a la carte.

Under the model, students would choose classes from a combination of local high schools, charter schools, cyber schools, colleges and universities, and a host of new forms of schools (globally competitive, employer-sponsored, single-gender, online, university, municipal, residential, and others) created by HB 5923.

Because School Aid Fund money can only go to public schools, a student's home district would be forced to act as the fiduciary for a student's foundation allowance, paying bills on a student's behalf and maintaining student records. The proposal is silent on a host of topics including who is responsible for approving a student's education plan, determining course completion and credit approval, and awarding diplomas. Perhaps most disturbingly, the proposal does not address the questions of how the system would be funded or how providers would be held accountable for a student's performance.

Furthermore, the proposal clearly states that it "is not designed for all students" and admits, "most students and their parents may be satisfied" with their current options.

MASSP strongly recommends that members read "Disaggregating High School Education" (which is not too lengthy). We would also urge you to share your thoughts in the comments section below. Tell us what you are already doing in your school to accomodate student's individual education needs so we can carry your stories to decision makers in Lansing.