(From The Detroit News, December 21, 2009)
By KAREN BOUFFARD
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.”