Michigan’s governor Rick Snyder and Detroit Public Schools Emergency Manager Roy Roberts recently announced a joint plan to reform schools throughout the state. Beginning in the fall of 2012, the lowest performing five percent of Detroit public schools will taken over by the Education Achievement System (EAS) – a newly created statewide school system. At each school taken over by EAS, decision-making and responsibility will by placed in the hands of principals, staff, and parents rather than the Detroit Public Schools central office. Emphasis will be placed on hiring of qualified principals and teachers (current teachers would have to reapply for their jobs).
Gov. Snyder’s announcement has been met with strong reactions, both negative and positive. Opponents view the installation of Roberts as Emergency Manager - able to make unilateral decisions - and the severing of union contracts as deeply undemocratic. Supporters believe the reform plan is focused on student achievement and may be radical enough to give Michigan the impetus it needs to truly change. Many elements of Snyder’s plan are considered drastic, but in fact we have already seen many of these elements in Baltimore City, with turnaround, transformation, and charter schools leading the way. (Detroit Public Schools and the Detroit Federation of Teachers have opposed the expansion of charter schools despite the rampant failure of its public schools.) Reform efforts proposed by Gov. Snyder may serve as blueprint for (or a warning against) future education reform in our country.
http://www.michigan.gov/snyder/0,1607,7-277-57577-258186--,00.html
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5ii5X6xIoI0g4tB5U-N6XabVk-U5g?docId=ae4510d640274d94b3879e60efd98115
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