Contents of this issue:
- MME scores improve slightly in most subjects
- Michigan residents want teacher benefit reform
- California court overturns ruling on homeschooling
- United Way starts program to curb dropout rates
- State to hold hearing on special education changes
MME SCORES IMPROVE SLIGHTLY IN MOST SUBJECTS
LANSING, Mich. — Students showed slight increases in reading,
writing and science scores in the second year of the Michigan
Merit Exam, which includes the ACT, but more than half failed the
mathematics section, according to the Detroit Free Press.
Sixty-two percent of students passed the reading section,
compared to 60 percent last year. In writing, 41 percent of
students passed. That is up from 40 percent last year. The
passing rate on the science test also increased one percentage
point, to 57 percent. Performance in math was stagnant with a 46
percent passing rate. There was a drop in performance on the
social studies test; 80 percent of students passed, down from 83
percent last year, the Free Press reported.
The average composite score on the ACT remained the same, at
18.8, according to the Free Press.
"The MME, with the inclusion of the ACT, is a rigorous test and
all students have to be prepared with the knowledge to excel,"
State Superintendent Mike Flanagan said in a statement, according
to the Free Press. "As the requirements of the new high school
curriculum continue to be implemented, we expect to see students'
scores improve."
SOURCE:
Detroit Free Press, "State's reading scores go up, more than half
fail math," Aug. 7, 2008
https://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080807/NEWS06/ 80807035/1008
FURTHER READING:
Michigan Education Report, "New high school graduation
requirements in action," May 6, 2008
https://www.educationreport.org/9457
MICHIGAN RESIDENTS WANT TEACHER BENEFIT REFORM
DETROIT — A phone survey commissioned by Detroit Renaissance
shows that Michiganders support sweeping reform to improve the
state, including reforming benefits for state employees and
public school teachers, according to The Detroit News.
"Hopefully, we are reaching a point where we can drive change
simply by tapping into the anger of people who don't want to live
like this anymore," Renaissance board Chairman David Brandon told
The News. "If people don't listen to these findings, I don't know
what they'll listen to."
The Michigan Priorities Survey found that about 75 percent of
those polled would support increasing health care premiums for
state employees. Currently, state employees pay between 5 and 10
percent of their premiums, compared to private-sector employees
who usually pay between 16 and 28 percent of their own health
insurance premiums, The News reported.
Additionally, about 74 percent support an overhaul of retirement
benefits for teachers. Michigan teachers receive a defined
pension, which requires districts to pay a specific amount each
year. Citizens called for a 401(k)-type system for new teachers,
according to The News.
SOURCE:
The Detroit News, "Survey: Reform state now," Aug. 7, 2008
https://www.detroitnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2008808070377
FURTHER READING:
Michigan Education Report, "Growing number of districts seek
solutions to costly health insurance" Dec. 15, 2005
https://www.educationreport.org/7479
CALIFORNIA COURT OVERTURNS RULING ON HOMESCHOOLING
LOS ANGELES — A California state appellate court has ruled that
parents are allowed to educate their own children, according to
the Los Angeles Times.
The court previously ruled that parents could not oversee their
child's education unless they had a teaching certificate. California has an estimated 166,000 home-school students. Before
the previous ruling, the State Department of Education had
allowed homeschooling and left enforcement of certain policies to
local districts, the Times reported.
SOURCE:
Los Angeles Times, "Court says parents may operate home-schools,"
Aug 8, 2008
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/thehomeroom/2008/08/court-says-pare.html
FURTHER READING:
Mackinac Center for Public Policy, "Home Schooling: An
'Encouraging and Robust' Movement," May 24, 2004
https://www.mackinac.org/6653
UNITED WAY STARTS PROGRAM TO CURB DROPOUT RATES
DETROIT — The United Way of Southeastern Michigan has launched a
$10 million initiative to reduce high school dropout rates for
the Detroit-area, according to The Detroit News.
The fund will support efforts in high schools with dropout rates
of 40 percent or higher. Schools in Detroit, Hazel Park, Lincoln
Park, Melvindale, Allen Park, Pontiac, River Rouge, Ecorse,
Redford, Hamtramck and Eastpointe will participate. It was
triggered by a $1 million donation from AT&T Michigan, and the
fund has already reached $4 million.
"We have an urgent need in Michigan, and this shows foresight and
community planning along with philanthropic organizations,"
Detroit Superintendent Connie Calloway told The News. "We've been
working together for 13 months and I think this is a magnificent
opportunity."
SOURCE:
The Detroit News, "United Way plans $10M initiative to curb
Detroit-area dropout rates," Aug. 6, 2008
https://www.detroitnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080806/METRO/808060301/ 1005/LIFESTYLE
FURTHER READING:
Michigan Education Digest, "Michigan ranks last in graduating
black males," July 29, 2008
https://www.educationreport.org/9703
STATE TO HOLD HEARING ON SPECIAL EDUCATION CHANGES
LANSING, Mich. — A legislative hearing will determine whether
proposed changes to special education rules will be implemented,
according to the Detroit Free Press.
The Joint Committee on Administrative Rules will hear testimony
regarding the Michigan Department of Education's list of proposed
changes to special education programming throughout the state.
Parents are particularly outraged at the elimination of an
extended school year of 230 days for students with severe
disabilities. More than 600 people registered in opposition to
the change, the Free Press reported.
If the committee doesn't take action, the rules may become
official the next time the House and Senate meet in session on
the same day, according to the Free Press.
SOURCE:
Detroit Free Press, "Special education hearing set for
Wednesday," Aug. 11, 2008
https://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080811/NEWS06/ 808110374
FURTHER READING:
Michigan Education Report, "Legislators take up special ed
rules," Aug. 11, 2008
https://www.educationreport.org/9717
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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