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GROSSE POINTE WOODS, Mich. – Families who do not live in the Grosse Pointe Public School System but send their children there will now face a fine of up to $13,000 if they are caught, according to The Detroit News.
The News reports that Grosse Pointe is one of just 11 districts in metro Detroit that do not accept students from out of the district under the state's Schools of Choice program. Under that program, state funding follows students to the district they choose.
According to The News, less than 1 percent of Grosse Pointe students are nonresidents. The News reports that last year, 42 students were told to leave.
SOURCE: The Detroit News, “Grosse Pointe school district to begin nonresidency fine,” Aug. 30, 2012
FURTHER READING: Mackinac Center for Public Policy, “Grosse Pointe State Rep: Public Schools Must Control 'Who is Allowed to Attend,'” Aug. 30, 2011
DETROIT – Detroit Public Schools Emergency Financial Manager Roy Roberts and the Detroit Federation of Teachers have agreed upon a bonus system for teachers, according to MLive.
MLive reports that teachers will receive a 1 percent bonus for every $5 million in surplus the district has at the end of the year.
Roberts told MLive that rewards would come if DPS goals were met.
"This bonus program is proof that we are making definite progress and are moving in the right direction — both financially and collaboratively," he told MLive.
SOURCE: MLive, "Bonuses for Detroit teachers announced as awkward relationship between emergency manager and school board continues," Aug. 31, 2012.
FURTHER READING: Mackinac Center for Public Policy, “Merit-Based Pay Rewards Everyone," June 25, 2012
WASHINGTON, D.C. – A report from the Council on Foreign Relations says that low U.S. school quality poses risks to future economic growth, according to MLive.
The report notes that though the country spends a great deal on education, more than a quarter of U.S students do not finish high school, and that many lack the skills to be employable in an increasingly competitive environment, reports MLive.
According to MLive, the report calls for an expansion of school choice and increased accountability measures.
SOURCE: MLive, "Report: Struggling schools put national security, economic prosperity at risk," Aug. 30, 2012
FURTHER READING: Mackinac Center for Public Policy, “Per-Pupil Spending Little To Do With Performance," Aug. 14, 2012
DETROIT – Teachers are scheduled to start a week later than usual at the Romeo and Fraser school districts, The Detroit News reports.
According to The News, the Michigan Education Association says the delay is a contract negotiation tactic. If contract negotiations are not resolved before the current contract expires, districts do not have to pay teachers any salary step increases, The News reports.
According to the News, contracts in both districts expired last Friday.
SOURCE: The Detroit News, “Teacher union decries delays in Fraser, Romeo," Aug. 29, 2012
FURTHER READING: Michigan Capitol Confidential, "Survey Says... School Union Contracts Contribute to Deficits," July 21, 2012
MUSKEGON, Mich. – The first public charter school district opens today in Muskegon Heights, according to MLive.
Mosaica Education, the charter school management company selected by Muskegon Heights' emergency manager, has worked quickly over the summer to reorganize the district, MLive reports.
SOURCE: MLive, “Students heading to Muskegon-area schools will find a number of changes,” Sept. 2, 2012
FURTHER READING: Michigan Education Report, "Muskegon ISD school board supports emergency manager's reforms," July 10, 2012
MICHIGAN EDUCATION DIGEST is a service of Michigan Education Report, an online newspaper published by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, a private, nonprofit, nonpartisan research and educational institute.
The Mackinac Center for Public Policy is a nonprofit research and educational institute that advances the principles of free markets and limited government. Through our research and education programs, we challenge government overreach and advocate for a free-market approach to public policy that frees people to realize their potential and dreams.
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