Legislature to vote on school reform package
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
By KAREN WORKMAN
Of The Oakland Press
Of The Oakland Press
Michigan’s Legislature will vote Thursday on a series of bills that could make the state eligible for up to $400 million in federal grants for schools.
“(The Obama administration) has basically said: ‘You can get paid to do these reforms now or wait and be forced to do them later,’” said state Rep. Tim Melton, D-Auburn Hills.
As part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 signed into law by the president in February, $4.35 billion was set aside for the Race to the Top Fund. The fund is a competitive grant program designed to encourage and reward states making substantial gains in education and education reform.
“This is about 20 years worth of reform that we’ve done in the last year and a half,” Melton said.
The series of bills to be voted on will change a variety of things regarding the state’s education system, ranging from increasing the drop-out age from 16 to 18 to requiring teachers and principals to be evaluated and compensated based on student performance.
“You have to start using student data and growth models to evaluate teachers and principals,” Melton said, adding that too many teachers are rated “exemplary” in schools that aren’t producing results. “The state must start taking data and linking it to the teacher.”
Individual districts and unions will be able to negotiate how teachers and principals are measured, he said. “These districts will have to find a better way to do assessments,” Melton said. Teachers and administrators who do not have the appropriate tools to provide a good learning environment — like books, paper and other school supplies — will be given an avenue to contact the state. The state may then contact the district to ensure the supplies will be provided or create a fund to pay for the supplies and withhold the equivalent amount from the district’s state payment to reimburse the fund.
“It’s called the teacher’s bill of rights,” Melton said, adding that he’s heard of teachers having to go 65 days without books for their classrooms.
A new mandate would also be created that requires children who are 5 years old on or before Sept. 1 to attend kindergarten.
Currently, a child can be 6 years old before having to enter school.
Programs like Teach for America and the New Teacher Project, which are alternative routes for people to become certified teachers, will also be allowed in the state’s schools by the new legislation.
The legislation also requires the state to intervene in districts that have schools performing in the bottom 5 percent statewide. Melton said he is sure that some Oakland County schools fall into that category.
Also, laws regarding charter schools will also see changes.
While the state will Melton maintain its cap of having 150 charter schools in operation, it will be a “smart cap.”
“The smart cap means, if you’re one of the 150 charter schools and you’re performing well, you can expand,” Melton said.
High-performing charter schools will also be encouraged to open up more high schools, since there are fewer charter high schools than there are elementary and middle schools.
“We want those best providers to start operating high schools as well,” Melton said.
The state superintendent will have the authority to shut down charter schools which are in the bottom 5 percent as far as student achievement.
Melton said the state senate has agreed to about 90 percent of the legislation, opposing things like the drop-out age increase and new kindergarten age requirements.
“We’ll find a way to compromise,” he said.
Melton said it’s imperative for the legislation to be passed on Thursday, before the legislature leaves for its winter break because the deadline to apply for the grant is Jan. 19, 2010. However, if the state is denied its application, there will be a second phase during which the state can reapply.
The state can be awarded up to $400 million.
If it receives the full $400 million, half will go toward Title 1 districts, which are generally in poverty-stricken areas. The state superintendent will then have discretion in awarding the remaining $200 million to other districts.
Contact staff writer Karen Workman at (248) 745-4643 or karen@oakpress.com.
“(The Obama administration) has basically said: ‘You can get paid to do these reforms now or wait and be forced to do them later,’” said state Rep. Tim Melton, D-Auburn Hills.
As part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 signed into law by the president in February, $4.35 billion was set aside for the Race to the Top Fund. The fund is a competitive grant program designed to encourage and reward states making substantial gains in education and education reform.
“This is about 20 years worth of reform that we’ve done in the last year and a half,” Melton said.
The series of bills to be voted on will change a variety of things regarding the state’s education system, ranging from increasing the drop-out age from 16 to 18 to requiring teachers and principals to be evaluated and compensated based on student performance.
“You have to start using student data and growth models to evaluate teachers and principals,” Melton said, adding that too many teachers are rated “exemplary” in schools that aren’t producing results. “The state must start taking data and linking it to the teacher.”
Individual districts and unions will be able to negotiate how teachers and principals are measured, he said. “These districts will have to find a better way to do assessments,” Melton said. Teachers and administrators who do not have the appropriate tools to provide a good learning environment — like books, paper and other school supplies — will be given an avenue to contact the state. The state may then contact the district to ensure the supplies will be provided or create a fund to pay for the supplies and withhold the equivalent amount from the district’s state payment to reimburse the fund.
“It’s called the teacher’s bill of rights,” Melton said, adding that he’s heard of teachers having to go 65 days without books for their classrooms.
A new mandate would also be created that requires children who are 5 years old on or before Sept. 1 to attend kindergarten.
Currently, a child can be 6 years old before having to enter school.
Programs like Teach for America and the New Teacher Project, which are alternative routes for people to become certified teachers, will also be allowed in the state’s schools by the new legislation.
The legislation also requires the state to intervene in districts that have schools performing in the bottom 5 percent statewide. Melton said he is sure that some Oakland County schools fall into that category.
Also, laws regarding charter schools will also see changes.
While the state will Melton maintain its cap of having 150 charter schools in operation, it will be a “smart cap.”
“The smart cap means, if you’re one of the 150 charter schools and you’re performing well, you can expand,” Melton said.
High-performing charter schools will also be encouraged to open up more high schools, since there are fewer charter high schools than there are elementary and middle schools.
“We want those best providers to start operating high schools as well,” Melton said.
The state superintendent will have the authority to shut down charter schools which are in the bottom 5 percent as far as student achievement.
Melton said the state senate has agreed to about 90 percent of the legislation, opposing things like the drop-out age increase and new kindergarten age requirements.
“We’ll find a way to compromise,” he said.
Melton said it’s imperative for the legislation to be passed on Thursday, before the legislature leaves for its winter break because the deadline to apply for the grant is Jan. 19, 2010. However, if the state is denied its application, there will be a second phase during which the state can reapply.
The state can be awarded up to $400 million.
If it receives the full $400 million, half will go toward Title 1 districts, which are generally in poverty-stricken areas. The state superintendent will then have discretion in awarding the remaining $200 million to other districts.
Contact staff writer Karen Workman at (248) 745-4643 or karen@oakpress.com.
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