Contents of this issue:
- Private schools work to keep tuition low
- Many minority students don't graduate from high school
- Detroit school receives grant for drug testing
- Grand Rapids high schools adjust attendance policies
- Parents seek special ed. changes
PRIVATE SCHOOLS WORK TO KEEP TUITION LOW
DETROIT — Many private schools in Michigan are facing decreasing
enrollment due to the struggling economy, but are combating it
by engaging in innovative fundraising and even freezing tuition
for parents, according to the Detroit Free Press.
For example, the Detroit Waldorf School developed a payment plan
in which parents discuss their financial situation with the
school and develop appropriate payment. The two Cornerstone
Schools in Detroit are using billboards and other forms of
advertising to reach out to people willing to contribute $42 a
month to sponsor a part of a student's $3,500 tuition, the Free
Press reported.
While two Catholic schools are closing in the Detroit area, a
new Catholic school, scheduled to open in the fall, will offer a
mandatory work-study program so students work off much of their
tuition, according to the Free Press.
"There is a perception that we're affluent and don't need any
help," Dick Halsey, executive director for the Association of
Independent Michigan Schools, told the Free Press. "There has
been significant pressure on financial aid programs. ... Pressure is most felt in places where the tuition is lowest."
SOURCE:
Detroit Free Press, "Private schools boost efforts to help area
families," June 6, 2008
https://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080606/NEWS06/ 806060426/1003/NEWS
FURTHER READING:
Michigan Education Report, "Painting the private school picture," May 12, 2000
https://www.educationreport.org/2890
MANY MINORITY STUDENTS DON'T GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL
LANSING, Mich. — A report from Education Week shows that many
minority students, specifically black and Hispanic students,
aren't graduating from high school, according to WLNS.
The report found that only one-third of Michigan's young black
men graduated in 2005. The dropout problem isn't just about
race, however, as about 20,000 Michigan students drop out of
school annually, WLNS reported.
SOURCE:
WLNS TV 6, "More Minority Students Dropping Out of School,"
June 5, 2008
http://www.wlns.com/Global/story.asp?S=8435218&nav=0RbQ
FURTHER READING:
Michigan Education Report, "Privately managed public school
academy raises achievement for minority students," May 30, 2002
https://www.educationreport.org/4371
DETROIT SCHOOL RECEIVES GRANT FOR DRUG TESTING
DETROIT — Detroit was awarded a federal grant for school-based
random student drug testing, according to the Detroit Free
Press.
The $165,300 Detroit receives is only a small chunk of the $5.8
million the federal government awards for such programs.
"Random student drug testing programs test students who opt into
the drug testing program with their parents' or guardians'
consent, participate in school athletic programs or engage in
competitive, extracurricular, school-sponsored activities,"
according to Spellings' office, the Free Press reported.
SOURCE:
Detroit Free Press, "Detroit news briefs: City gets grant to
test randomly for drug use," June 5, 2008
https://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2008806050339
FURTHER READING:
Michigan Education Digest, "U.S. Supreme Court to consider
school drug testing policies," March 19, 2002
https://www.educationreport.org/4124
Mackinac Center for Public Policy, " 'The Wire': A Barbed
Portrayal of Urban Public Schools," Oct. 24, 2006
https://www.mackinac.org/8012
GRAND RAPIDS HIGH SCHOOLS ADJUST ATTENDANCE POLICIES
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Teachers in Grand Rapids are no longer
allowed to reduce a student's grade for lack of attendance,
according to The Grand Rapids Press.
Teachers criticized the school board's claims that a student
should not receive a lower grade if they can prove they know the
material. The Grand Rapids teachers union said it thinks the
move could be a ploy on the part of the school board to increase
the number of passing students, especially since it was done so
late in the semester, The Press reported.
Some educators are still skeptical.
"There's just no replacement for that student-teacher contact,"
Jenison High Principal Mark Dievendorf told The Press. "It's not
just the delivery of instruction. It's the building of a
relationship and the support and encouragement that helps
students to succeed academically."
SOURCE:
The Grand Rapids Press, "Grand Rapids policy criticized, but
more schools say attendance not essential," June 4, 2008
https://www.mlive.com/news/index.ssf/2008/06/grand_rapids_policy_criticized.html
FURTHER READING:
Michigan Education Report, "Should Michigan raise the compulsory
school attendance age from 16 to 18? No," May 24, 2007
https://www.educationreport.org/8508
PARENTS SEEK SPECIAL ED CHANGES
LANSING, Mich. — The Michigan State Board of Education would
regain a large share of authority over special education in the
state if a parent activist can convince lawmakers to make the
move.
Marcie Lipsitt of Franklin, parent of a son with special needs,
is the main force behind House Bill 5323, which would rescind a
1996 executive order moving special education decision-making to
the state superintendent of instruction.
Lipsitt and others say that an elected body would be more
accountable to the public when it comes to decisions about
providing special education services. They are particularly
opposed to the superintendent having final say on alternate
special education plans that allow school districts to increase
class size or caseloads.
Special education administrators have said that alternate plans
give them flexibility to provide services more effectively.
The bill would not ban such plans, but would require ISDs to
obtain state board approval for them.
SOURCE:
Michigan Education Report, "Special ed parent: 'We have not had
a voice,'" June 10, 2008
https://www.educationreport.org/9530
FURTHER READING:
Mackinac Center for Public Policy, "Operating monies for Special
Education," in "A Michigan School Money Primer,"
May 30, 2007
https://www.mackinac.org/8581
Michigan Education Report, "Parents push for changes in special
ed waiver system," Feb. 29, 2008
https://www.educationreport.org/9292
MICHIGAN EDUCATION DIGEST is a service of Michigan Education
Report (
https://www.educationreport.org),
an online newspaper
published by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy
(
https://www.mackinac.org),
a private, nonprofit, nonpartisan
research and educational institute.
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