Michigan

Articles

598 articles

MI Lawmakers Weigh Takeover Changes

3/6

Dec 7, 8:54 AM:

Bill to replace voter-repealed emergency manager law moves forward. Detroit and other cities and their school districts impacted. Describes new measure's provisions allowing mediation or bankruptcy and let systems remove appointed >

Training MI Teachers

5/6

Dec 6, 6:53 AM:

Profiles Univ. lab where educators learn how to do their jobs better. Attention on dean of U-M School of Ed demonstrating effective teaching methods and why important for those in classroom to see how it's done -- how create >

Opposing MI Takeover Power

4/6

Dec 4, 6:51 AM:

New coalition of educators joining forces to try to derail legislation on fast track to make Educational Achievement Authority stronger. Recaps ability to take charge of low-performing districts and opponent arguments. Background >

Detroit Math Time

5/6

Dec 3, 1:41 PM:

Teachers replace digital clocks with old-fashioned analog ones to help students learn more than how to tell time. Describes how used to teach fractions and geometry concepts.

MI Teacher Performance Numbers

4/6

Nov 30, 7:43 AM:

Looks at results from 1st year all districts in state required to eval educators. Explores "effective" ratings given to those in poor-performing schools. But also notes higher "ineffective" rankings also found in those >

MI Eval Data Questions

4/6

Nov 30, 7:41 AM:

Explores how just-released numbers from 1st year of mandated teacher performance reviews could leave parents confused. Describes how districts used own standards, so can't do apples-to-apples comparison of schools. Notes state >

MI Measure Tackles Facility Usage

1/6

Nov 30, 7:08 AM:

Looks at proposed legislation dealing with maintenance of empty buildings and making them available to charters. Notes in same bill addressing poor-performing districts. Info mixed together for confusing read.

MI Model Evals

3/6

Nov 29, 6:20 AM:

Ed advocacy group criticizes methods used to judge teacher performance in 28 districts and charters who want to opt out of new state effort being developed. Describes findings and outlines shortcomings. Need more on methodology >

Detroit Leadership Question

4/6

Nov 28, 6:32 AM:

Analysis of who's really in charge of city's public schools -- board or emergency manager -- following repeal of law letting state appoint leaders. Explores implications of battle on larger reform issues and efforts to turnaround >

Detroit Accountability Battle

4/6

Nov 26, 6:29 AM:

Looks at legal fight over city's failing schools and effort of board to retake control of them following repeal of state's emergency manager law. Describes lawmaker efforts to keep EAA. Outlines changes made as well as challenges. >

Michigan Goes Radical

5/6

Nov 20, 6:20 AM:

Gov's school funding proposal takes dollar-follows-child slogan seriously, removing district "ownership" of student and giving each child $6,900 to take to any public school, which includes charters. Gov wants more online, too. >

Money For Early Grad

4/6

Nov 19, 2:04 PM:

Overview of MI Gov's plan for "any time, any place, any way, any pace" ed that would allow students to use their public funding in any district and calls for scholarship $$ for those who finish HS in less than 4 years. Notes >

“V” Word

5/6

Nov 19, 12:58 PM:

Overhaul of MI's school funding fraught with land mines, particularly over vouchers. Some sniff at the money follows child philosophy. Others fear quality isn't a factor in new funding system. Gov calls for expanding online >

Union Internal Wars

4/6

Nov 19, 12:49 PM:

2 candidates vie for top spot in Detroit union. Incumbent brings up his track record. Challenger challenges union for not going after district harder. Has past run-ins with union leaders.

Delay Keeps Detroit Board In Place

4/6

Nov 15, 1:04 PM:

Anticipating MI Legislature will act soon, judge postpones hearing on whether elected panel members can remain on job. Recaps lawsuit state AG filed for removal because of enrollment drop. Explores local complaints about emergency >

Evaluation Lawsuit

3/6

Nov 15, 7:02 AM:

District says it just followed eval requirements union involved in developing, but Detroit's union sues district for "improper layoffs based on performance evaluations." Lots of rhetoric, but not context of student fallout given >

Life After Emergency Manager Repeal

5/6

Nov 15, 6:59 AM:

Voters voice heard that EM was too autocratic, so state leaders float options for avoiding financial disaster in Detroit and other districts burdened with debt. Goal is to give locals a choice, because $$ crisis still here.

Lines Drawn In Detroit

4/6

Nov 14, 8:09 AM:

Since voters repealed emergency manager law, city's Board wants to withdraw from EAA and sever contract with EMU. Not so fast, says state officials. May need court action. Legislatures may try to codify law for future.

Open Meetings Violation

4/6

Nov 13, 6:44 AM:

A MI district's charter ruled by judge in violation of law for not making minutes of meetings available. Must also notify Board of scheduled meetings. Board member says charter "purposefully withholding." Charter already complied. >

MI District Faces Lawsuit

4/6

Nov 7, 1:58 PM:

Describes parent's suit to try to get report on allegations special ed teacher abused students. Provides background on case, info on what happened to educator, and district's reaction.