Welcome Guest [Log In] [Register]
Welcome to Livonianeighbors.com. We hope you enjoy your visit.


You're currently viewing our forum as a guest. This means you are limited to certain areas of the board and there are some features you can't use. If you join our community, you'll be able to access member-only sections, and use many member-only features such as customizing your profile, sending personal messages, and voting in polls. Registration is simple, fast, and completely free. To ensure your privacy, never use personal information in your screen name or email address ("janedoe@hotmail.com" or "Billysmom" for example).

Join our community!


If you're already a member please log in to your account to access all of our features:

Username:   Password:
Add Reply
Race to the Top Fund; Detroit News- November 12, 2009
Topic Started: Nov 12 2009, 12:54 PM (4,838 Views)
Whatever
Member Avatar
Veteran
Micki
Dec 19 2009, 10:37 AM
Whatever
Dec 18 2009, 11:14 AM
Micki
Dec 17 2009, 07:13 PM
Race to the top monies has many strings attached. Additionally, $600 million is not a lot of money when you are dividing it among all of the public schools in Michigan. It would not cover 3 administrator's salaries or 6 teachers yet the obligations to fulfill would be binding. One of the things that would change is that anyone with a bachelor's can be a teacher. They will of course have a lower pay and no union representation, however, they also do not have to take any courses to stay certified or to improve their teaching practice. Also, every district in Michigan has to agree to all of the terms in order for the state to get one cent.
Wow, Micki! You're a teacher, right? Don't cry to parents that the schools are underfunded!
Whatever,

This is not going to fix the school funding problem. I am all for vouchers. 2 of my kids go to a private school.

As for crying about funding... is that what you think this is? I do not want to sell my soul to pay for 3 administrator's salaries. Would you? Try to look at it objectively. Our tax monies were taken from this district! My contribution to the 20j funding is gone! WTF! Why is that O.K? I feel that citizens should come together and have a class lawsuit against the government. This is ridiculous.

As for merit pay, etc... How do you think that is going to work? Have you SEEN the plan? Do you know that special education students are lumped into the same group for merit pay? Is that fair? If I am teaching a fifth grader who performs at a first grade level and he/she makes a years growth in a years time, I do not get compensated for that. I have to bring him up to a fifth grade level, yet he is cognitively impaired. I am not against merit pay but I do think it should be fair. Teachers like myself who are very good at what they do and especially good at differentiating instruction get placed with all the kids with special needs (whom I love) and the other teachers that do not embrace special ed teachers in their classes or differentiate as well don't get those students and their test scores are higher. They are the teachers that would get the merit pay, not me. How do you think teachers are going to view students with special needs in their classrooms if their performance is tied to their salary/livelihood? This is a fair question. Because, it will become an issue.

As for tenure, I don't have a problem with that one unless I have a principal with a vendetta. And, all professions face that to some extent. There are teachers that need to go, but there are also good teachers that need to stay... What will happen in Michigan? What will the school systems look like? Will you want your kids in them without the resources you have come to expect and demand? I know I demand what my kids need and deserve.

It will be interesting to see how this all plays out. Nobody is going to win with this one.

I truly believe that we should be contributing to education and more than what our tax dollars used to provide. School is not free. Good teachers are not free. Pay through taxes or pay later.

In fact, I would be happy to have 20 students in my home that I could teach at $5.00 an hour per child. It would double my salary. $4,500 per child seems fair to me. Does it to you?


We agree on one point: School is not FREE! If you want a good education you have to pay for it! That's why my kids do not attend public school. I do not support more taxes for public education. More money will not fix the problem. The system is broken. Give me my money and let me send my kids where I want. I think vouchers have a better chance of passing next time around.
Edited by Whatever, Dec 19 2009, 04:19 PM.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Whatever
Member Avatar
Veteran
Did you read this, Micki?:

http://www.detnews.com/article/20091218/POLITICS02/912180434/1026/rss06

Last Updated: December 18. 2009 6:22PM
State lawmakers reach 'landmark' education deal


"Granholm praised lawmakers for compromising on landmark bills that will link teacher evaluations, pay and tenure to student performance, and said she's "comfortable" with the reform package they have tentatively agreed upon.


Rep. Tim Melton, D-Auburn Hills, chairman of the House Education Committee, said the reforms are a positive development for Michigan children, regardless of whether the legislation helps Michigan to win federal money linked to the Race to the Top education reform effort. "
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Micki
I love teaching.
Yep.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Administrator
Administrator
Race on for state education reform deal
Karen Bouffard / Detroit News Lansing Bureau

Lansing -- If the state House and Senate don't pass Race to the Top school reform bills by midnight tonight, it's not going to happen until at least Dec. 31, the Senate has decided.

After a nearly 12-hour legislative session Friday, the Senate recessed until 10 a.m. this morning, saying once the gavel ends tonight's session they won't convene again until Dec. 31.

It's a move that pushes lawmakers to seal the deal on landmark legislation by the end of today -- or put the state at significant risk of missing a Jan. 19 deadline to apply for the first phase of federal Race to the Top funding that could total $400 million or more for the state.

Sen. Wayne Kuipers, R-Holland, said Republicans have had enough nit-picking over drafts of the bills the House and Senate agreed on early Friday.

"We had an agreement at 4 o'clock this morning," Kuipers said. "We don't think it takes that long to go through the drafts. "We can't wait around all night."

The Senate emptied within minutes, and the doors were locked. Then the House gave up and went home.

"Everyone wants to go home," said State Rep. Tim Melton, D-Auburn Hills, chair of the House Education Committee. "This isn't pumping gas. This is something that's got a lot of impact on people.

"This is about 20 years of reform that we've crammed into a year. We're not going to rush because somebody wants to go home."

It was the end of a turbulent week of finger-pointing, theatrics and a good share of pouting over the historic legislation that would change how education happens in Michigan. States that want a chance at the federal bonanza must link teacher pay and tenure to kids' test scores, open their doors to charters, and figure out how to fix failing schools.

Under the deal struck Friday morning by the House and the Senate, high-quality charter schools would be able to open others, the dropout age would be raised to 18 and a state turnaround czar would be able to shutter or seize control of failing schools.

The state Department of Education released a draft of its Race to the Top plan Friday afternoon as lawmakers negotiated over their bills.

The department's plan provides an education reform framework similar to what was proposed in a deal hatched this morning by lawmakers but more closely matches federal requirements to win Race to the Top funding, going beyond the level of reform envisioned in the bills likely to be voted on this evening.

The plan was crafted to help Michigan win part of $4.35 billion earmarked by the Obama administration to incentivize states to overhaul their education systems. States from California to Illinois, Delaware and Florida have reformed laws to link teacher evaluations to student progress, expand charters, shutter failing schools and enact other Race to the Top requirements.

The department's plan provides a detailed protocol for dealing with failing school districts -- an option not included in the plan tentatively agreed to by lawmakers, which would deal with failing schools one building at a time.

Lawmakers are trying to pass their reform package before breaking for the holidays to meet a Jan. 19 application deadline for the first round of funding. States that miss the deadline can apply later in the year, but officials believe the pot will be smaller -- and competition more intense -- for states that wait.

The Department of Education would flag the persistently lowest achieving 5 percent of school districts for a financial and academic "scan" to determine what the problems are. Districts could be asked to sign consent agreement with the state school superintendent, who would have the authority to appoint an emergency district manager to take over academic and/or financial control.

Gov. Jennifer Granholm signaled her support at a press conference Friday afternoon for the package of fundamental education reforms expected to be voted on by lawmakers later today.

"This will be very good for Michigan," Granholm said. "This is a good outcome for parents and children."

kbouffard@detnews.com (517) 371-3660

http://www.detnews.com/article/20091219/POLITICS02/912190375/1026/rss06
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Administrator
Administrator
Michigan lawmakers pass education reform
Karen Bouffard / The Detroit News

Lansing -- Historic education reforms to qualify Michigan for up to $400 million in federal Race to the Top money are headed to Gov. Jennifer Granholm for signing after passage by the Legislature on Saturday.

Granholm said she will sign the landmark legislation, which will raise the high school dropout age to 18; allow state takeover of failing schools, open new charters and cyber schools; and end union protections over employment, tenure and pay for teachers who are ineffective.

Provisions were not included to address Detroit Public Schools Emergency Financial Manager Robert Bobb's request for an academic takeover of his entire district; and the legislation allows limited expansion of charter schools -- rather than opening the floodgates as Illinois, Indiana and some other states have done to win the money.

Advertisement
But early enactment of what is considered a strong package of reform measures places Michigan in a competitive position to capture a share of $4.35 billion earmarked by the Obama administration for states willing to fundamentally change K-12 education.

"These reforms signal to the world that Michigan is going to be relentlessly focused on student learning, and that will guide us as we expand charter schools, evaluate and grant tenure to teachers, and reform or, in some cases, close failing schools," Granholm said in a statement. "Today's action is all about helping kids get a first-class education in a world that demands nothing less."

The legislation will:

• Require children to attend school until they are 18

• Allow fast-track certification of teachers

• Create a turnaround czar in the Department of Education, and a establish a process for state takeover or shuttering of failing schools

• Allow high-quality charters to become Schools of Excellence that could open one new charter school each

• Open two 400- to 1000-student cyber high schools geared for high school dropouts

• Open 10 Schools of Innovation to be run by high performing charter operators from across the country

The package represents weeks of compromise between the Democratic majority in the House and the Republican-led Senate who have deadlocked repeatedly over the state budget and other issues.

But lawmakers won cooperation from teachers unions on some issues, which is critical because the federal Race to the Top application awards points to states that get buy-in from collective bargaining units.

But Michigan Education Association, the state's largest teachers' union, and the Detroit Federation of Teachers, continue to oppose provisions in the legislation that would waive collective bargaining rights for teachers in failing schools taken over by the state.

"We have come to agreement with legislative leaders on every necessary aspect of Race to the Top, including alternative certification, using student data as a component in employee evaluation, and measures to turn around struggling schools," Michigan Education Association President Iris Salters and David Hecker, president of the American Federation of Teachers-Michigan, said in a joint statement released Saturday afternoon.

"However, the absolutely unnecessary language in the bills stripping educators of their voice in helping students in those struggling schools is something we cannot and will not support."

The legislative action followed marathon negotiations marked by finger-pointing, theatrics and a late Wednesday night walkout by Senate Republicans.

"We have proved we can work in a bi-partisan way," said Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop, R-Rochester. "What we did today is monumental."

Rep. Tim Melton, D-Auburn Hills, chair of the House Education Committee, said the bills are the culmination of 18 months of committee meetings, hearings, backroom meetings and compromise.

"It's a good day for Michigan," Melton said. "Very rarely do you see unions standing with charter schools, and charter schools standing with administrators, and Republicans with Democrats.

"We get blamed a lot, but we got it done. It's not perfect, but we got it done."

http://www.detnews.com/article/20091219/POLITICS02/912190380/1026/rss06
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Administrator
Administrator
Gov. Jennifer Granholm calls Legislature's sweeping education reform 'revolutionary'
By Peter Luke
December 19, 2009, 10:48PM

Teacher merit pay, charter school expansion, public school takeover and raising the dropout age have long been keystones for Michigan education reform advocates.

All of that and more was approved by lawmakers Saturday in a sweeping package of change that backers say will transform K-12 education in the decade ahead.

“You may not be able to recognize the full impact of this reform package for 10 years — these take time to implement and see results — but we are definitely moving in the right direction and you’ll see some very positive gains as a result,” said Sen. Wayne Kuipers, R-Holland, chairman of the Senate Education Committee.

Gov. Jennifer Granholm, who will sign the bills, said the package’s emphasis on achievement is “revolutionary. Every reform is orchestrated around improvement and that is really important. That’s what this is all about.”

FACT SHEET
School reform legislation approved by the House and Senate on Saturday:
• Allows the state takeover of the lowest performing public schools in Michigan if mandatory efforts to achieve change by local teachers and administrators fail.

• Effectively lifts the cap on the number of university-chartered public school academies in Michigan for operators of existing schools with high levels of student achievement. Allows the state to charter 10 additional schools on its own and shut down the worst performing charter schools. Creates two pilot charters for virtual “online” schools and caps virtual school enrollment at 2,000.

• Requires school boards and charter directors to establish fair, but rigorous performance standards for teachers and administrators. The standards would impact decisions on promotions, salary, merit pay and job retention.

• Raises the high school dropout age from 16 to 18 for students currently in the sixth grade and younger.

• Allows an optout of the algebra II completion requirement for high school students enrolled in an approved career or technical program.


The impetus for change that has been stalled for years was the prospect of $400 million in federal aid through Michigan’s application to the Obama administration’s Race to the Top school improvement program. Lawmakers this week rushed to complete work on the package before breaking for the holidays to meet the Jan. 19 application deadline.

There are three main elements in the package.

School turnaround: By Sept. 1, Michael Flanagan, Michigan’s superintendent of public instruction, has to identify the lowest achieving 5 percent of all public school buildings in the state using federal student assessment criteria.

Those schools would then be placed under the supervision of a state school redesign officer. Local school boards, with input from the union and superintendent, would then have 90 days to craft a turnaround plan using one of four Race to the Top school intervention models. Absent agreement on a turnaround plan, the redesign officer could impose one.

One reform model allows the redesign officer to contract with a charter school operator to run the school.

The plan could also include changes in work rules, length of school day and year, and staffing. The redesign officer could control a building’s budget and curriculum. Multiple failing buildings in a district could be grouped under the management of an appointed chief executive officer that would have broad authority to implement the reform plans.

Teacher unions unsuccessfully lobbied against the final version of the measure because the redesign officer would have the power to nullify locally bargained labor contracts.

“Stripping educators of their voice in helping students in those struggling schools is something we cannot and will not support,” said Iris Salters, president of the Michigan Education Association, and David Hecker, president of the American Federation of Teachers-Michigan.

House Speaker Andy Dillon, D-Redford Twp. countered that “teachers may now find it liberating to have a pathway out of failure.”

Charter schools: The current 150-school cap on university-authorized charter schools would be effectively lifted by allowing the highest-performing existing schools to convert into so-called “schools of excellence.” That creates cap space for perhaps 20 additional charter schools. Operators of converted schools would be given preference to receive new charters for the opening of additional schools.

K-8 schools with half their students living in low-income households could be eligible for conversion if 70 percent of all students are proficient in reading and math. Any charter school could convert if 90 percent of their students are proficient. Existing charter high schools could convert if 80 percent of students graduate and go onto postsecondary education.

The state superintendent would have the authority under the package to close any charter schools among the 5 percent of lowest achieving of all public schools in the state. Additionally, the superintendent can authorize as many as 10 charter schools over the next five years and the first five selected would have to offer grades 9 through 12.

Lawmakers also allowed for the operation of two virtual, or “cyber” charter public schools, that would each have a maximum of 1,000 students currently enrolled in public school. Qualified vendors would have to already be teaching 10,000 students in at least five other states.

Teacher evaluation: School boards would be required to establish a new evaluation system for teachers and administrators that is “transparent, fair and rigorous.”

Main criteria would be student performance and growth measured by state and national tests. The evaluation would have to give “ample” opportunity for improvement but could also be used in decisions to promote and retain school personnel. Teachers, tenured and untenured, could be fired. Kuipers unsuccessfully sought to amend teacher tenure law that would have barred fired teachers from working elsewhere in the state.

School boards, moreover, would have to implement a merit pay system in new labor contracts that would include job performance as “significant factor” in compensation and bonuses.

Other measures:

— The dropout age would be raised from 16 to 18 starting with students currently in the sixth grade.

— High school students could fulfill their algebra II requirements by receiving two credits over two years or 1.5 credits over three semesters. Students could also get credit by enrolling in an approved career and technical education program that contains appropriate math content.

— Teachers could file complaints with the Michigan Department of Education if the district fails to provide classrooms with adequate books and supplies. Unresponsive districts could be slapped with a loss of state aid and the department could use those funds to provide classrooms with the supplies.

— School labor unions would be given equal opportunity to bid on contracts for non-instructional services such as transportation.

Whether or not Michigan receives any Race to the Top funding, schools across Michigan are still likely to face more state aid cuts on top of the $165-per-pupil cut in the current-year budget because of declining property, income and sales tax revenue. Rep. Tim Melton, D-Pontiac, chairman of the House Education Committee, asked Senate Republicans early Saturday morning to consider a school revenue package as well, but was rebuffed.

But in light of those cuts, Melton said the prospect of federal aid was enough to get his colleagues to approve school reform critics say the Michigan school lobby has long opposed.

“This is not about the money for me,” he said. “I’ve been pushing these reforms before the president was elected. (Race to the Top) gave us the leverage to get these things done that Lansing otherwise wouldn’t have gotten done.”

E-mail Peter Luke: pluke@boothmichigan.com

http://www.mlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2009/12/gov_jennifer_granholm_calls_le.html
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Administrator
Administrator
No vote on Michigan school changes as lawmakers wait
By The Associated Press
December 19, 2009, 12:25AM

LANSING, Mich. — State lawmakers remained in a holding pattern Friday night as they waited to vote on changes that could help Michigan win up to $400 million in federal funding for schools.

The holdup came as the House and Senate waited for bills to be drafted that address issues ranging from charter schools to dealing with ineffective teachers and failing schools.

A spokesman for GOP Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop said just after 10 p.m. that three bills were ready to go but the most complex measure was still being drawn up by the Legislative Service Bureau.

It wasn't clear if lawmakers would remain in session until the bills were written and passed or if they'd decide to break and come back on one of the few days remaining before Christmas.

Just after the House reconvened early Friday evening, the mood turned somber when House Speaker Andy Dillon announced that Rep. Mike Simpson, a Democrat from Jackson County's Blackman Township, had suffered a heart attack and died Friday while returning from the Cleveland Clinic.

The 47-year-old former restaurant owner had been ill with a rare blood disorder known as light-chain deposition. His desk was draped in black and a moment of silence was held in the House.

Both the House and the Senate dealt with a few other bills as the hours dragged on. But mostly lawmakers just waited.

Earlier Friday, Gov. Jennifer Granholm said an agreement was near on the proposed changes.

"I'm comfortable with what has happened in this negotiation," she told reporters after signing a smoking ban into law at a downtown brew pub. "Everybody gave a little and got a little. The bottom line is, the students will get the most."

The Obama administration is setting aside roughly $4 billion for states that aggressively shake up their school systems with an eye toward improved student performance. The changes being considered by Michigan legislators likely are needed for the state to have a chance at winning a share of the money.

Fewer than half the states are expected to secure cash from Race to the Top. Applications for the money are due in January.

If Michigan wins the money, it won't stop school districts from absorbing cuts of at least $165 per student and, for 39 more highly funded districts, roughly $300 per student more. Additional cuts could be announced next month after state economists estimate how much tax revenue Michigan will receive next year.

But no one wants to pass up the chance for more federal dollars. So negotiators from the Republican-led Senate and Democrat-led House worked to overcome differences on a variety of issues that could have wide-sweeping effects on Michigan schools.

Legislation would increase the number of charter schools by around 30, raise the dropout age from 16 to 18 starting with current sixth-graders and continue a requirement that school districts not start classes until after Labor Day.

The deal also irons out differences over who would oversee failing schools, how ineffective teachers could be fired and how an alternative teacher certification program could be put in place.

It took most of the day to write the agreements into legislation.

http://www.mlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2009/12/no_vote_on_michigan_school_cha.html
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Administrator
Administrator
Fed cash spurs Michigan lawmakers on education reforms
Karen Bouffard / The Detroit News

Lansing -- A monumental education reform package designed to win federal funding is headed to the governor's desk and will dramatically change K-12 education in Michigan.

Bills passed by state lawmakers Saturday link teacher pay and job security to student achievement, allow for state takeovers of failing schools, raise the high school dropout age to 18 and create fast-track certification of teachers.

It's a strong five-bill package experts say is likely to make Michigan a top contender among states vying for federal money as part of the $4.35 billion Race to the Top program.


"(Michigan's reform bills) represent exactly what the federal government want states to be doing," said Joe Williams, executive director of the national Democrats for Education Reform.

Provisions, however, were not included to address Detroit Public Schools Emergency Financial Manager Robert Bobb's request for an academic takeover of the district, and the legislation allows limited expansion of charter schools, rather than opening the floodgates as Illinois, Indiana and some other states have done to win the money.

State lawmakers put in long hours last week so legislation would be enacted in time to qualify Michigan for the federal money. Gov. Jennifer Granholm has said she will sign the bills.

The state Department of Education now needs to finish a complex application by Jan. 19.

If Michigan wins, it's likely to get in the range of $400 million, based on the number of students in the state, according to the Obama administration.

About 50 percent of the winnings would go to the Michigan Department of Education for statewide programs, but the other half would go to individual districts that sign on to the state's application.

If districts want the money, they have to fill out their own forms with signatures indicating the support and agreement of everyone from school board members to administrators, teachers and unions.

The whole package must be in the hands of the U.S. Department of Education in 29 days.

"Letters have been sent to every school district and charter school," said Jan Ellis, spokeswoman for the Michigan Department of Education, which released its Race to the Top plan Friday. "We've been holding workshops and webinars. We are working almost around the clock on this."

Dozens of employees have been working on the application for months, Ellis said.

The program was announced by the White House in July.

"It involves technology, budget, curriculum, our deputy superintendent, our finance office, our budget office, our field services office. I would be surprised if we had any office that was not participating. It's an enormous project."

Educators statewide have been waiting for the Legislature to enact reforms that the Obama Administration has outlined as requirements to win the race.

Rep. Tim Melton, D-Auburn Hills, chairman of the House Education Committee, said the reforms needed to be made, and they will benefit Michigan kids even if the state never sees a penny of Race to the Top money.

"This is not about the money for me," Melton said. "The Race to the Top gave us the impetus to get reforms done that probably would not have got done for 10 or 20 years."

kbouffard@detnews.com (517) 371-3660

http://www.detnews.com/article/20091221/SCHOOLS/912210320/1026/rss06
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Administrator
Administrator
'Race to the Top' Realities
By Mr. Michael D. Van Beek
| 12/22/2009 8:23 AM

Now that the Michigan Legislature finally passed some school reform bills in its attempt to get a potential one-time payment of $400 million from the federal government, let's put this "Race to the Top" program into perspective.

Four hundred million dollars seems like a nice chunk of change; that is, until you consider how much Michigan spends on its public schools. In 2007-08, Michigan spent almost $19 billion on public education, making the potential "Race to the Top" money a mere 2 percent of the state's total education bill.

If allowed, the state could spend all but about $110 million just on getting the more than 40 schools with operating deficits above water.

The national total for "Race to the Top" - $4.35 billion - is dwarfed by the $100 billion handed out by the Obama Administration to fund the public education status quo. Funds slated for schools as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act shielded schools from experiencing the realities that come with economic recessions - such as decreased tax revenue.

Schools in Michigan used the equivalent of $370 per pupil through this funding in July and another $285 per pupil in October to lower this year's state aid reduction. More funding for preserving the public school system is coming from Washington as just last week the House created a $23 billion "education jobs fund."

If one were keeping score, that'd be $123 billion for more of the same in public schools and $4.35 billion for some change.

#####

Permission to reprint this blog post in whole or in part is hereby granted, provided that the author (or authors) and the Mackinac Center for Public Policy are properly cited. Permission to reprint any comments below is granted only for those comments written by Mackinac Center policy staff.

Categories: Education, Federal Government; Education, Funding

http://www.mackinac.org/11597
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Administrator
Administrator
Gov. Granholm signs education reform bills
Package aimed at helping state qualify for federal aid for schools
Mark Hornbeck / Detroit News Lansing Bureau

Lansing -- Michigan has two weeks to finalize its application for about $400 million in federal "Race to the Top" cash, following Gov. Jennifer Granholm's signing of education reform bills Monday aimed at qualifying for the aid.

The five-bill package will raise the state's dropout age to 18, tie teacher pay and job security to student achievement and open about 30 new charter schools.

"The reason this is so significant is now everything will be focused on: 'Is this child learning?' " Granholm said. "It's all about academic progress."


State schools Superintendent Michael Flanagan added: "This is a game changer forever."

Granholm also said there should be clear authority for emergency financial managers, such as Robert Bobb in the Detroit Public Schools, to also be emergency academic managers, which would allow those leaders to take over entire districts.

Deadline for the state Department of Education to complete application for the federal aid is Jan. 19. But Flanagan said it's his sense that only a couple of states will be awarded grants in the first round and the others will be given feedback and asked to reapply in April.

"If Michigan is one of the first two or three, that would be great," he said. "But there are 50 states. You do the math."

Local districts are expected to send letters of support by the end of this week, Flanagan said. But union leaders argued in a statement Monday it doesn't make sense to sign off on an application that hasn't been finished. Leaders of the Michigan Education Association and the Michigan Federation of Teachers sent a letter to Granholm and the State Board of Education, urging them to extend the deadline.

"Without an extension that allows them to receive and review the final state plan, signing an incomplete memorandum of understanding is just like signing a blank contract," said MEA President Iris Salters. "It's not unreasonable to ask that districts and their employees get to see what they're agreeing to before they sign it, especially since there are so many legitimate concerns about the contents of the draft plan."

Flanagan replied: "I understand that everyone is under tight timelines here... If I were a local superintendent again, I strongly would be urging my local school board and union presidents to sign the memorandum of understanding because I realize what is at stake here. But I fully respect that this is a local decision."

Michigan is among states vying for $4.35 billion in federal money for the Race to the Top program. About half the grant money would go to the Education Department for statewide programs, and the other half would go to individual districts that sign on to the state's application.

Sen. Wayne Kuipers, R-Holland, chair of the Senate Education Committee, said poor-performing teachers will be weeded out through this package

"Those who continue to fail should find other occupations," Kuipers said.

But Flanagan said the intent of the legislation is not to fire teachers but to help them improve. The package will:

• Require children to attend school until they are 18.

• Allow fast-track certification of teachers.

• Create a turnaround czar in the Department of Education and establish a process for state takeovers or shuttering of failing schools.

• Allow high-quality charters to become "schools of excellence" that could open one new charter school each.

• Open two 400- to 1,000-student cyber high schools geared toward high school dropouts.

• Open 10 "schools of innovation" to be run by high-performing charter operators from across the country.

• Open a state hotline for teachers who don't have supplies or books. If the district doesn't provide them within three days, the Department of Education can buy them and deduct the expense from the district's state aid payments.

mhornbeck@detnews.com (313) 222-2470

http://www.detnews.com/article/20100105/POLITICS02/1050350/1026/rss06
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Administrator
Administrator
Michigan education superintendent concedes 'tight timelines,' but calls for districts to submit letters of understanding for Race to the Top funding
By Dave Murray | The Grand Rapids Press
January 04, 2010, 6:29PM

Mike FlanaganState educators say they're aware school districts are facing tight timelines to consider signing off on a state reform plan still in draft form.

But Superintendent Mike Flanagan said Monday federal authorities set the deadlines, and districts need to get their letters of understanding turned in if they want a shot at a potential $400 million for Michigan schools through the Race to the Top program.

"We were hoping to get an extension from the federal government, but were not able to get that," Flanagan said in a press release. "I understand that everyone is under tight timelines here."

Flanagan was responding to a letter signed by leaders of the state's two largest teachers unions, calling on members not to sign the memo until the state has an actual plan that the sides can agree upon.

Flanagan said districts must have their letters to their intermediate school districts by Thursday, unless their board meets that night. Then the signed letter is due the following day.

He said the timing allows the state Board of Education to act on a plan at its meeting Jan. 12.

Union leaders argued that the federal deadline is not until Jan. 19, leaving time for school boards, superintendents and union leaders to sign something better than what MEA spokesman Doug Pratt called "a blank contract."

"The education of Michigan's students is at stake here," Pratt said. "As the superintendent said, this is a very important issue - all the more reason that those signing on to this plan should have the chance to read it first!"

Pratt said it makes more sense to ask the nine state school board to reschedule their meeting than ask more than 550 school districts to sign the unfinished document.

Pratt said a law firm representing many state school districts also has concerns. Thurn Law Firm, P.C. in a Dec. 22 letter to client districts, stated that the "ever-changing backdrop," the firm "remains unable at this time to give an unequivocal legal recommendation" to sign the memo.

E-mail Dave Murray: dmurray@grpress.com


http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2010/01/michigan_education_superintend.html
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Deleted User
Deleted User

Administrator
Jan 5 2010, 01:40 PM

Union leaders argued that the federal deadline is not until Jan. 19, leaving time for school boards, superintendents and union leaders to sign something better than what MEA spokesman Doug Pratt called "a blank contract."

Better for who?

This is much needed reform, and if the MEA hadn't roadblocked reform in the past, we wouldn't be in such a rush today.
Quote Post Goto Top
 
Ms. AK
Veteran
Pratt said a law firm representing many state school districts also has concerns. Thurn Law Firm, P.C. in a Dec. 22 letter to client districts, stated that the "ever-changing backdrop," the firm "remains unable at this time to give an unequivocal legal recommendation" to sign the memo.

Yeah, Hmmmm. I'm sure they'd be all over the public's best interest, considering they are paid with public dollars.
Krome on Cars

Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Administrator
Administrator
Editorial: Michigan parents, teachers should push local leaders to get aid
The Detroit News

This week is the deadline for local school districts to signal their intentions to apply for federal Race to the Top education grants, worth more than $400 million to public schools. Parents should demand that their local school leaders do what's necessary to be eligible for the money.

The Obama administration requires any school district that hopes to receive Race to the Top dollars to provide three signatures by this Thursday: one each from the school superintendent, school board president and the head of the teachers' union local.

The requirement was an ingenious move. It provides a built-in accountability mechanism at the local level, demanding two institutions often at odds about education reform -- the teachers union and school boards -- to commit to the application's requirements or admit to their local community that they're not interested in gaining funds for their schools.

There's good reason to be concerned that the signatures won't be delivered in some communities. The Michigan Education Association (MEA) was among the biggest obstacles to an array of legislative changes that were adopted before Christmas to meet the Race to the Top deadline.

Michigan lawmakers took months longer than other states to enact the reforms -- signed Monday -- mostly because of the union's enormous influence.

Now there's an opportunity for similar roadblocks at the local level.

On Monday, the MEA and Michigan Federation of Teachers urged Gov. Jennifer Granholm and state Superintendent of Schools Mike Flanagan to push back this week's deadline, saying they need to see a final Race to the Top plan before they can support local memorandums of understanding.

The unions know very well the details of the legislative reforms just passed; they lobbied against them for months. And state officials have hosted local stakeholder meetings on Race to the Top. The details won't change with more time.

The unions are trying to undermine local support for Race to the Top, which will hold teachers more accountable for their education results, among other overdue changes.

Oxford Community Schools was among the first districts to complete its memorandum. The district is beginning to offer classes on a 24-hour, seven-days-a-week schedule to keep more at-risk students in school.

Oxford Superintendent William Skilling says his district's changes are a positive step for the school district, even if Michigan doesn't win Race to the Top funds.

That's the spirit that should prevail in all districts. It will only happen if parents demand that their local school districts confront the unions' stalling tactics and go after the Race to the Top money.

http://www.detnews.com/article/20100105/OPINION01/1050311/1007/rss07
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Administrator
Administrator
MEA, AFT leaders told their support is no longer needed for Race to the Top agreements
By Dave Murray | The Grand Rapids Press
January 05, 2010, 1:59PM

Update: Teachers unions 'shocked' to be removed from Race to the Top application process

Teacher’s union leaders balking at signing an agreement for the state Race to the Top application were told Tuesday their signature is no longer needed — even if it might hurt the state’s chances at getting the federal money.

State Superintendent Mike Flanagan sent an alert to districts Tuesday saying they still are facing a deadline to have their superintendent and board president sign off on the agreement, but no longer have to worry about getting the union president on board.

The move comes a day after the Michigan Education Association and the American Federation of Teachers issued a rare joint letter to Gov. Jennifer Granholm and the state school board president, saying it is “simply unconscionable” to ask unions to agree to a plan that isn't even completed.

Flanagan said he is confident in the strength of new state reforms Granholm signed into law on Monday, and wants as many districts as possible to take part in the state’s application. He wants the union to agree, if possible, but doesn’t want labor groups standing in the way.

“Having only these two signatures may reduce Michigan’s overall chances to get Race To The Top funds, so I am asking that local districts still work hard to get all three signatures,” he wrote.

“Having all three signatures as possible will position Michigan to be most competitive in the Race To The Top initiative. But I do not want to penalize those local school districts that already have the full support of their board and superintendent and deny them the opportunity to get funding.”

Union leaders were "shocked" by their exclusion.

The signed agreements are due to local intermediate school districts by Thursday or directly to the state Education Department on Friday, allowing the state Board of Education to act on Tuesday.

MEA spokesman Doug Pratt said Monday that the application to the federal government isn’t due until Jan. 19, leaving time for the state to complete its plan, and get copies to local educators and union representatives to review before they are asked to commit.

The Obama administration has targeted more than $4 billion in competitive grants for state through the program, and Michigan is estimated to be eligible for about $400 million.

E-mail Dave Murray: dmurray@grpress.com

http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2010/01/mea_aft_leaders_told_their_sup.html
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Administrator
Administrator
Teachers unions 'shocked' to be removed from Race to the Top application process
By Dave Murray | The Grand Rapids Press
January 05, 2010, 3:40PM

Teachers union leaders say they're "shocked" that state Superintendent Mike Flanagan is removing union approval from the process leading the Michigan's Race to the Top application.

"We are absolutely shocked at the lack of respect being shown to all of the stakeholders in our state's education system in what is supposed to be a collaborative process," said Doug Pratt, spokesman for the Michigan Education Association.

"Our request was that the state plan be completed before we are asked to agree to it, and that doesn't seem too unreasonable. And because of our unreasonableness, the state is saying, 'Hmm. Your participation is now optional?'"

District superintendents, Board of Education presidents and teachers union representatives were required to sign off on agreement that is still in draft form.

But leaders from the state's two largest unions balked, recommending local not sign what they called a "blank contract" unless they could include language protecting members.

State Superintendent Mike Flanagan on Tuesday told educators they can submit their letter of agreement even if it lacks union support.

The union asked the state to delay its Jan. 8 deadline to sign the agreement, saying the U.S. Education Department needs the application by Jan. 19.

"The superintendent told us he needs everything in hand by Jan. 15 so he could get it in the mail and have it arrive on time," Pratt said. "Has he ever heard of FedEx? I even offered to drive it to Washington myself."

E-mail Dave Murray: dmurray@grpress.com

http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2010/01/teachers_unions_shocked_to_be.html
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Ms. AK
Veteran
Where is LPS in the process?
Krome on Cars

Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Deleted User
Deleted User

Anna Krome
Jan 6 2010, 08:05 PM
Where is LPS in the process?
LPS? Part of a process? If that is the case then they are dead last due to the Administrative leadership & union influence on the BOE.

History shows it to be so, politics shows it to be pre-determined, money, votes & influence always determine how elections go.

Until the populous speaks up at the polls, the special interests will continue to rule.

Status Quo will be the downfall of your childs education.

Can you say "dummy down my child so they meet LPS standards?" I can, because I have been there and done that!

I spend more time & money re-teaching my children to meet the upcoming requirements for college than the money LPS spends on keeping their friends & family members employed, not to mention the kickbacks the administrative staff at central office get from their contactors get & perks they get as the FAT part of their so-called contracts.
Quote Post Goto Top
 
Ms. AK
Veteran
"District superintendents, Board of Education presidents and teachers union representatives were required to sign off on the agreement...."

Now that the MEA is not needed, does anyone know if LPS' super and BOE president signed off on the agreement, yet? Or, do they not plan to?
Krome on Cars

Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
want2know..
Advanced Member
[ *  *  * ]
I, too, was wondering if LPS' super and BOE president signed off on the agreement, or if they plan to. I just skimmed back over the first page of this thread, and to me most of the news articles say the "State of Michigan" can get $400 to $600 million dollars from this program, if eligible. More recent articles here say school districts need to approve/apply. I don't recall seeing anything specifically about LPS, and wonder if they are attempting to apply for any of this grant money.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
DealsFor.me - The best sales, coupons, and discounts for you
Go to Next Page
« Previous Topic · Livonia Neighbors Forum · Next Topic »
Add Reply