A news service for the people of Michigan from the Mackinac Center for Public Policy

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Two Charter Public Schools Being Closed

If only all schools faced the same accountability

… couple of Michigan charter public schools are facing the harsh … contractual obligations. The schools are closing for different … to Michigan's public charter schools. According … more

Politics Alive and Well in Public Schools

Brandon board won't sell vacant building to charter group

School boards are sometimes … opening a new public charter school there. The school … mid-sized Michigan school district, however, demonstrates … up going to this new charter school instead. Of … more
Conventional and charter high schools, by quartile

Measuring the Value of Charter Schools

… a statewide ranking of schools , which took student … Bridge Magazine that charter public schools are twice … Mackinac Center's High School Report Card . Not … of conventional and charter public schools. The … more

The Difference With Charter Schools

In charter schools policy debates … distinction between charter public schools and district-run schools … more

Inaccurate Claims Buoy Attacks On Charter Public Schools

'There is no such thing as a "for-profit" charter school in Michigan'

Comstock Public Schools privatized janitorial … the district, opposed charter public schools in a letter to a … that criticized some charter schools as being for … more

Charter Schools Average Smaller Class Sizes

Less top heavy than conventional schools, too

… expanding the number of charter public schools. That s the conclusion … conventional public school status quo, many of … or eliminate their charter school competition. These … more

Huffington Post Gets Charter School Study Wrong

… article titled Charter School Growth in Michigan Brings … study of Michigan s charter schools by Stanford University into … more

Free Press Misleads on Charter Schools

… caps on the number of charter public schools contains a series of … dangerous. No charter public school has ever … more

School Choice Advocates Cheer Lift of Charter Public School Cap

Bill contains 'extra level of accountability' for school performance

… the number of public charter schools that can be chartered by public universities. … margin. Charter school advocates claim the … more

Michigan Charter Schools a Smashing Success

… Michigan s public charter schools, and the results … results for public charter schools and their students … more

Charters Increase Special-Ed Enrollment

… criticism lobbed against charter public schools is that they don t … conventional public schools, this has begun to … true that historically charters have had relatively … more
Cross your fingers

Charter School Demand Continues to Rise

… demanding more public charter schools according an annual … every public charter school in the country, there … there aren't enough charters to meet demand, often … more

How Not to Measure Charter School Quality

… too many failing [charter] school operators. A focus on school quality for all schools … Trust s analysis of charter public schools is short-sighted, … more

Charter School Superintendent Makes Over $339K A Year

Summit Academy director Alison Cancilliari oversees high school given 'F' on report card

… the state is from a charter public school whose high school received an F on … parents can leave a charter public school and have … more

Superintendents Falsely Claim Charter Schools Shortchange Poor Children

State data shows charters serving higher percentage of low-income students than traditional public schools

Seventy-one Michigan public school superintendents signed … site that claimed that charter schools were serving middle … eligible students in charter schools than in conventional … more
Schools of Choice Participation by District

School Choice Benefits Students

… Michigan students, the school they attend is the only … Some students attend charter public schools or take … majority of Michigan school districts have just … Michigan students attend a charter public school or a school … more
Vacant Classroom

Close Dysfunctional Schools

… the Buena Vista and Pontiac school districts have been … district transition to a charter district. The district … make a case for giving schools more money. But school … stayed on when the charter management company took … more

Top 10 Charter High Schools

… nearly 600 public high schools in Michigan and ranks the schools accordingly. Here's … list of the top 10 charter public high schools. To see … more

Variety Isn't Discrimination

Reuters reports that some charter public schools in Ohio, Illinois, … to Reuters, an Ohio school used an entrance exam … investigation) an Illinois charter public school actually required … more
Schools of Choice participation over time

More Michigan Students Opt for School Choice

… interested in expanding school choice than it is in … increasing. So has charter public school enrollment. During … said that increasing school choice in Michigan was … are attending public charter schools this year. But … more

Charter Public Schools Give Detroit Schoolchildren Hope

Stanford University study finds charter pupils gain an extra three months of learning

… ago, Detroit Public Schools students scored the … school a year when in charter public schools compared … answers." But thanks to school choice, there may finally … Detroit area. Charter public schools in Detroit … more

Educrats Spin Conspiracy Theories

… Kalamazoo County public school officials are complaining … cap on the number of charter public schools. The … eliminate public schools. Such alarmist … increased competition from charters. The Mlive.com … more

'Stranded Costs' Will Always Be Paid by Taxpayers

… to nerf public charter schools and school contractors. The unions would like charters and contractors to … more

Politicians: Stop Blocking the Online Charter School Door!

Online charter schools are a promising … of these virtual schools. A recent news … market demand: One online charter school is being forced … more

Michigan Charter Schools Closing While Failing Conventional Schools Stay Open

Analyst: 'That is how charter schools are held accountable'

… Flint, Center Academy charter school and Northern High School both struggled academically. In … distinction between how charter schools authorizers handle … more

New Study Shows Better Results For Public Charter School Students Compared To Students In Conventional Schools

Stanford University report took race, poverty level, English language learner and special education status into account

… in Michigan public charter schools do better academically … conventional public school counterparts. The students … followed more than 85,000 charter school students in 273 … more

Superintendent Uses School Email List For Politics

Head of Farmington Public Schools urges parents to oppose charter school bill

Farmington Public Schools Superintendent Susan … the arbitrary cap on charter public schools. Experts … parents by using the school s list-serve to send … Claims Buoy Attacks On Charter Public Schools Profiting … more

It Shouldn’t Take a Hurricane to Revitalize Detroit Public Schools

… called Detroit Public Schools New Orleans without … Detroit s failing schools could be turned into charter public schools, a move … million by authorizing charter management companies … more

Michigan School Spending Hits All-Time High

… poor-mouthing by individual school districts in news articles, … terms (not including charter public schools or districts … committees, per-pupil public school spending set a new record … the lowest-spending charter school was Virtual Learning … more

MEA's Hyperbole About Cyber Charter Schools

… that manage online charter public schools here will make hundreds … percent of what these schools spend, which includes … two current online charters now allowed shows the … more

Charter Schools Not At Fault For Conventional School Failures

Charter schools open because parents want choices

… running many state schools. Ulbrich, a Democrat … from conventional school district systems to charter schools. "Under … open more and more charters and cyber charters, … more

District Refuses to Sell Unused Building to Public Charter School — Despite Receiving $250K Asking Price

Battle Creek Public Schools pays tens of thousands of dollars per year to maintain empty school

Battle Creek Public Schools turned down an offer … $250,000 for a closed school building that came from a charter public school. Ron … was looking to open a charter elementary school and … more

School Takeovers: Much Criticism, No Solutions

… Heights and Highland Park school districts. Government … voiced about plans to "charterize" the fiscally and … Lessenberry , and a state school board member . So … independently managed charter schools to provide education … more

EAA Bill Has Problems

But Grand Rapids carve-out not one of them

… Grand Rapids Public Schools, a district in the … past decades. Though charter public schools face … represents. Oakland Schools Superintendent Vickie … provision that could allow schools to be exempted from … more

Public Schools: 'Profit' Bad For Others, Good For Us

Superintendent speaking out on school choice earns $250K in compensation; school has 15 executives making over $120K

… voices among the public school superintendents warning … schools in Michigan. Some charter schools do hire for-profit … all the while her school district houses a … referring to "for-profit charter and cyber schools." Another … more

Commentary: Charter Schools Face Discrimination in Michigan

Lawmakers should insist that charters can acquire school buildings

… on the number of charter public schools in Michigan. As a result, … maybe hundreds of new charters will help families find schools better suited to their … more
Aspirin

The Public School Pension Fund’s Problem Is Not Charter Schools

School districts are required … recommending that public charter schools pay more. But … the Michigan Public School Employees Retirement … contributions from charter schools would have only … more

Lawsuit Against Highland Park Schools Misguided

… year, Highland Park schools were out of control, … manager selected a charter school company, the … describe Highland Park schools during the 2011-12 … from other Leona public charter schools. Over the summer, … more

A Better Choice, Less Than a Mile Away

… protests , Detroit Public Schools closed Southwestern High School this year because … High School, a public charter school that received … Center's new high school report card , which … more

Public School Lobbying Worse Than 'Skunk Works'

Concerns about "backroom dealings" insincere

A group of charter public school advocates, private-sector … to provide a value school model costing about … the self-interest of charter public school operators … more

Media Plays Into 'Unfounded Hysteria' Over School Reforms

Proposal would allow more school choice for parents and students

… Compuware to open a school for its employee s … lift the cap on online charter schools. Those impact … money would go to the school, not the corporation. Bridge … evaluation reforms? Charter school cap? "Descriptions … more

The Republicans Who Blocked Charter School Choice

Nearly a decade after Gov. Engler failed, Gov. Snyder has GOP smelling victory on charter school choice expansion

Before the creation of charter public schools in 1994, mere geography … Michigan s public school pupils. Much like buying … today, a majority of charters have a wait list, … more

Top 10 Conventional High Schools

… nearly 600 public high schools in Michigan and ranks the schools accordingly. Here's … schools that are neither charter schools nor selective-admissions … 10 conventional high schools that is, district-run … more

Choice For Me But Not For Thee?

School district supports 'schools of choice,' but opposes charters

A school district in Michigan … choice when it comes to charter and cyber schools in … body via the state's schools of choice program appears … appears to attack charter public schools, although … more

MichCapCon Flashback: The Republicans Who Blocked Charter School Choice

Nearly a decade after Gov. Engler failed, Gov. Snyder has GOP smelling victory on charter school choice expansion

… would remove a cap on charter public schools. The original bill that allowed charter schools placed a cap … that allowed charter schools placed a cap restricting … more

House Votes To Raise Cyber School Cap

… number of Michigan cyber schools. A cyber school, also called a virtual … cap on the number of charter schools in Michigan. What … ended up going to a charter school - and herself, … more

ISD Bloat?

Payrolls at Intermediate School Districts Grow Dramatically While Enrollment Declines

The number of school employees for each student … these trends, staffing at charter public schools appears … in Michigan's public school system has been rising … From 2000 to 2009, charter school enrollment increased … more

Status Quo School Defenders: Money For Me, But Bad For Thee

Current administrators making over $200K per year fight changes to the system

… conventional public school districts. Here s … said they would expand charter schools and hurt funding … conventional public schools. Salary information … (2012) Cook said that charter schools pay private … more

No Grand Rapids Carve-Out under EAA Bill

… Grand Rapids Public Schools. This is a rumor … school districts and charter public schools had an … meeting held by Oakland Schools Superintendent Vicki … Detroit News column, a school may be delayed from … more

School Funding at All-Time High

… constant calls from school officials and government … also show that public charter schools spent on average … more funding, public schools in Michigan received … per-pupil expenditures, charters spent about 17 percent … more

Inconvenient Truths on School Choice

… Tim Bartik says that school choice is an ineffective … are several studies of charter public schools that show students … in a study of Boston charters, and a study by Stanford … more

Milton Friedman and School Choice

… influential within the school choice movement and … are evident in the charter public school and online … freedom to choose the school they think is best for … problem with the public school system in the United … more

Sports Spending at Bloomfield Hills Schools is $285 Per Pupil

… the Ann Arbor Public School system, compensation … House Vote Would Force Charter Schools Into Underfunded … items in many public schools. "It's not trivial," … really know how much schools spend on athletics." Ann … more

School Officials Using Technology For Advocacy

District officials urge parents to take action against reform using Capwiz system

… session, the Oakland Schools official Twitter account … Bills Superintendents Falsely Claim Charter Schools Shortchange … messages. The Oakland Schools account retweeted a … Democrats and the official school district account also … more

Administrator Group Rails Against Education 'Profiteers;' Makes Millions Off Schools

… Michigan Association of School Administrators has been … calls for profit charter schools. In an op-ed , … the myth that only charter schools benefit financially … more

State Board of Education President Makes False Voucher Claims

John Austin is also a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, which says vouchers have 'statistically positive impacts' for college attendance

… which would allow public schools to take state money … set up in 1994 when charter schools were introduced. He said … research supporting school choice , including … computers and buses. Charter schools, however, are … more

Excuses Don't Change Facts

… County's five high schools scored poorly on the … card somehow favors charter schools. This, too, … Mackinac Center's h igh school report card : Howell, … of whether it was a charter, conventional or selective … more

Parents Pin Hopes on Charter School Lottery

… in the middle of the school gymnasium fill slowly … Washtenaw County public charter school that has become so popular … third among public charter schools on the latest … more

'We Found a Place Where Our Children's Safety Would Never Be An Issue'

An interview with a cyber school parent

… publicly funded cyber charter public schools. No more than 2,000 … may enroll in these schools under current law. … Michigan s two cyber charter schools Michigan … more

Public School District 'Strikes Out' on Criticism of Charter Public Schools

Berkley School Board approves resolution with 'inaccurate' claims

The Berkley School District Board of Education … this week that called charter public schools and online schools … Policy. Berkley s claim that charter schools and cyber schools … more

Union Friendly GOP Legislator Spurned by Big Labor

Rep. Zorn target of union attacks after voting for more charter schools

… to communities and school districts including … enrollment in cyber charter schools , it infuriated … voted against giving school district's more flexibility … vote against the cyber charter school bill. Brennan … more

Only Two School Districts With Deficits Don't Meet 'Best Practices'

Incentives for public schools to save money, reform is working

Two school districts that had deficits … state including charter schools that met … bonus. Buena Vista Schools in Saginaw and Global … start of the 2011-12 school year and were the only … more

Back-to-School Daze

Can Public School Districts Require Parents to Buy Necessary School Supplies?

… state, parents of public school children are engaged … school district and charter school, provides examples … scouring the stores for school supplies. Many parents … Michigan law, public schools are legally responsible to … more

Can School Choice Work in Detroit?

Critics of school choice often complain … district has been charterized, with individual … decisions when selecting a school for their children, … nation s worst urban school district, however, recently … more

School District Late To Make Changes

Taylor School District has 20-year history of declining enrollment; hasn't cut spending to match

The Taylor School District is in danger … Heights were turned into charter public schools after … miniature Detroit Public Schools if it doesn't do more … contract the Taylor School Board and the Taylor … more

Commentary: Research Shows Parental Choice Works

… reports, a group of public school superintendents from … 150 on the number of charter public schools that can be authorized … choice programs like charter schools, private school … more

Dec. 16 MichiganVotes.org Weekly Roll Call Report

… 618 , Eliminate charter school cap: Passed 22 to 16 … 150 on the number of charter schools that can be authorized … more

Breaking News: House Vote Would Force Charter Schools Into Underfunded Pension System

… that would force every charter school in the state to enroll … conventional public school employees belong. This … Report , most of the 4,000 charter school teachers in Michigan currently … more

August 10, 2012, MichiganVotes.org Weekly Roll Call

… willful and repeated school absence (or withhold … Bill 5754 : Authorize charter boarding school for … that requires public schools to expel a student … Olumba (D), to allow charter schools to operate residential … more

Will Unions Take Over Charter Public Schools?

… unions have fought charter schools tooth-and-nail: the … an e-mail to public school teachers explaining … union now authorizes charter schools and wants to … more

Cap on Charter Public Schools Eliminated

Five House Republicans and four Senate Republicans vote 'no'

… of the arbitrary 150-school cap on charter public schools dates back to the mid … eliminates the cap on charter schools in Michigan. Five … more

Democrat Measure Targets Charter Public Schools

… constitutional amendment to ban schools operated by for-profit … groups that manage charter schools, with the fact that … state's longstanding charter school cap. This was … more

Parents Pin Hopes on Charter School Lottery

… would remove a cap on charter public schools. The original bill that allowed charter schools placed a cap … that allowed charter schools placed a cap restricting … more

Superintendents' Letter About Charter Schools 'Incredibly Misleading'

12 superintendents sign statement with 'completely inaccurate' claim

… that support expanding charter and cyber schools contained statements … do not attend public school to go to public schools, including charter public schools outside … more

Analysis: Detroit Public Schools Students Bear the Pain of Limited Educational Opportunities

… from the first day of school in Detroit describes … the growth of Detroit charter public schools like … home from Mumford High School. Thankfully, both appear … assessment made by a school district spokesperson … more
MCC2010-01

Using Your Money to Get Your Money

… I was a junior high school student in Illinois, … reduction in the number of charter public schools by "reviewing … employees that if a school funding referendum did … performance and revoking charters for those that are … more

How Many Voters Will Miss The Bottom Of The Ballot?

Allen Park looks to end crony subsidy deals

… facilities, as well as a school to retrain laid-off … supporters of a local charter amendment on the ballot … so that many local school board elections take … a case for it. The charter amendment his group … more

Michigan Charter Schools Host ‘Meet the Candidate’ Nights

… Michigan's largest charter school association will … Association of Public School Academies (MAPSA) will … more

Telling Tales Out of School

… don t believe our schools will run without collective … More than 300 public charter schools are also thriving … surprising that a long-time school unionist might see the … private and independent schools currently operating … more

House Has Rare Opportunity With Charter Public School Cap Vote

State Rep: 'Should we only assure quality education by zip code?'

… place her children in a charter public school. She testified Dec. … currently the state's charter cap is blocking the schoolhouse door. "Our … more

Recall Retaliation? Senate Pushes Charter School Cap Repeal 'Union-Unfriendly' Reforms

Analyst: By bankrolling recalls, MEA union bosses 'may have brought a knife to a gunfight'

… limit the number of charter public schools authorized by state universities, and charter schools authorized by … universities, and charter schools authorized by regular … more

Democratic Proposal: Charter Public Schools Must Outperform Conventional School Test Scores by 20 Percent

… senators don t think charter public schools should be allowed unless … conventional public school counterparts. During … cap on the number of charter schools allowed in the … more

Superintendents Spread Inaccurate Information on Education Reform Bills

School officials wrongly claim corporations can get state money for schools

… company could open a school for the children of … also: Superintendents Falsely Claim Charter Schools Shortchange … it." However, the specific school that was created would … corporations could open a school for children of its … more

Bureaucrats vs. Parents — Who Should Choose Where Children Are Educated?

A glimpse into the public school establishment's mindset

… spokespeople for the public school establishment are extremely … private schools, public charters and open-enrollment … Elementary and Middle School Principals Association … government bureaucrats, school board members, union representatives, … more

Education Choice For Students, Parents Won't Destroy Communities, Schools

'The only ways this argument works is if you assume parents would flee conventional school districts in hordes if given the chance'

Some public school officials are calling proposed … legislation expanding charter school options and allowing … etc. Since the advent of charter schools in Michigan, … more
Cincinnatus

Emergency Managers Fill the Role of Modern-Day Cincinnatus

… most ailing public school districts: Detroit and … (some of which will be charter schools), granting them … for Detroit Public Schools is transformational. … a similar model to charter the entire district. … more

Teachers' Union Fails Accounting 101

Union reports revenues as profits in claims about cyber school operator

… that would allow more charter online cyber schools, the American Federation … provides curriculum for charter cyber schools made $522 million … more

MichiganVotes.org Jan. 14 Weekly Roll Call Report

… carrying a pistol in schools, day care facilities, … Bill 4019 (Eliminate charter school cap) Introduced … cap on the number of charter schools chartered by … more

The Legislature Must Fix Teacher Pensions the Right Way

… reforms to Michigan s school employee pension system, … wasn t the rise of charter public schools and school contracting. All of … more

Teacher Layoffs Not Caused By Lack of Cash

Emergency managers working to eliminate long-running deficits, improve school districts

… financially troubled school districts don t know … being turned into charter schools. But those three … comparison, the Bendle School District was the lowest-spending … more
MCC2009-4

“First Class” Schools?

House votes special benefits for Detroit

… the Detroit Public Schools to be a "first class" school district. State law … the creation of additional charter public schools within … district from additional charter school competitors. Adding … more

Debating Failing Schools

… to blame for failing schools? This was the … choice, particularly charter schools, and teacher … for poor-performing schools, but by the close of … cap on the number of charter schools that can operate … more

Debating the Cost of Parents' Picking Schools

… president of the Michigan School Business Officials association, … Palladium claiming charter schools spend considerably … MEA s take implies that charter schools aren t putting … more

Center Study Compares Financial Data for Michigan’s Urban, Suburban, Town and Rural School Districts

… spending for all Michigan school districts during seven-year … the period. Public charter schools were not part … suburban, town and rural school districts using federal … over others. “Urban school districts, for example, … more

Average Teacher Salary in Michigan Rises Again

… Education for the 2009-2010 school year, the average teacher … figure at $63,024. If charter schools are excluded, this … (this does not include charter school teachers). This … more

Berkley School District: Response

… discussing the Berkley School District's resolution against charter public schools. The district's claims … claiming that the proposed charters and cyber schools are … more

GOP's 'No' Votes On School Choice Defend Their Decisions

… Education Project, a pro-schools of choice group, asked … eliminating the cap on charter schools in Michigan, but when … eliminating the cap on charter public schools as expressed … more

Analysis: The Underfunded Schools Myth

… revenue for public schools per $1,000 of personal … others. Michigan's public charter schools cost on average … Michigan's public school establishment and … another way, public charter schools provide essentially … more

Former MEA Local Prez: Union May Lose 40% of Members – Including Him – if Teacher Right to Work Passes

… Grand Ledge Public Schools and a former teachers … Retaliation? Senate Pushes Charter School Cap Repeal … legislation for public school employees, which would … blaming teachers for school woes. Yet, even … more

Wayland Schools Show Taxpayers the Money

… pupils, Wayland Union Schools are providing a level … school districts, every charter public school, municipalities … growing group of public schools posting their checkbook registers … school districts, two charter public schools and three … more

License to Work: A National Study of Burdens from Occupational Licensing is the first national study to measure how burdensome occupational licensing laws are for lower-income workers and aspiring entrepreneurs.

Michigan has one of the most burdensome licensing requirements. Our state forces people to take classes and pay money to the state for things like painting, floor sanding, cutting hair and low-level carpentry. Few other states require that.

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