Public education in Michigan is under attack. Yes, its easy to write this line. The facts leading to this conclusion are simple as instructions to make a delicious apple pie to follow, so let's start shall we. On January 15th, 2013 Independent Underground News & Talk spoke with former President George W. Bush Assistant Secretary of Education Dr. Diane Ravitch about the effort to privatize public education in Michigan by Lansing politicians. Listen to this ground breaking interview below:
"In short, what this legislation will do if passed, is it would create a separate statewide school district (Education Achievement Authority) that is overseen by a governor appointed chancellor that operates outside the authority of the State Board of Education. This also would mean that these schools are exempt from the same laws as other public schools. The EAA can also seize and force sale or lease unused school buildings to charter, EAA or other non-public schools. This legislation also creates new forms of online and charter schools with no limit on the number of these schools that are created. Public schools would have to charter these schools if they chose to create them. This bill would further strain the funding and resources to public schools as it would create more schools that would need to be funded. Senate Bill 620 is known as 'The Parent Trigger Bill' and although the name of the bill sounds like it puts parents in control what it actually would do is allow the lowest achieving 5% of schools to become charter schools. This also would allow parents or teachers to petition for a reform model which in return, would end the local, community control of a school and would hand over taxpayer owned property and money to for-profit companies. It does nothing to address or develop community and parent involvement in local school districts."
The EAA can also seize and force sale or lease unused school buildings to charter, EAA or other non-public schools. This legislation also creates new forms of online and charter schools with no limit on the number of these schools that are created. Public schools would have to charter these schools if they chose to create them. This bill would further strain the funding and resources to public schools as it would create more schools that would need to be funded. Senate Bill 620 is known as 'The Parent Trigger Bill' and although the name of the bill sounds like it puts parents in control what it actually would do is allow the lowest achieving 5% of schools to become charter schools.
This also would allow parents or teachers to petition for a reform model which in return, would end the local, community control of a school and would hand over taxpayer owned property and money to for-profit companies. It does nothing to address or develop community and parent involvement in local school districts."
"The system for preparing students for the workplace â at both the state and national levels â is broken, Gov. Rick Snyder said in kicking off an education summit Monday. Snyder made no reference in his opening remarks at the annual Governor's Education Summit to a growing controversy over an education reform group headed by a top Snyder official. ..... But Snyder opened the summit amid a controversy over a work group that's been meeting secretly and discussing development of a low-cost school plan that critics say smacks of a school voucher plan. School vouchers â issued by the government and redeemable at private schools â are unconstitutional in Michigan, where they have been rejected by voters. A group which is headed by Snyder's Chief Information Officer David Behen has been meeting using the moniker "skunk works" and communicating using private e-mail accounts, the Detroit News reported Friday after obtaining meeting minutes and other records. A goal of the advisory group is to create a âvalue schoolâ through enhanced use of classroom technology that would result in a cost of about $5,000 per student, or about $2,000 less per pupil than the current per-pupil base rate, the newspaper reported."
School vouchers â issued by the government and redeemable at private schools â are unconstitutional in Michigan, where they have been rejected by voters.
A group which is headed by Snyder's Chief Information Officer David Behen has been meeting using the moniker "skunk works" and communicating using private e-mail accounts, the Detroit News reported Friday after obtaining meeting minutes and other records.
A goal of the advisory group is to create a âvalue schoolâ through enhanced use of classroom technology that would result in a cost of about $5,000 per student, or about $2,000 less per pupil than the current per-pupil base rate, the newspaper reported."
"The "Michigan School Finance Act of 2013" was crafted by no other than the Founding Member and Secretary of the Mackinaw Center for Public Policy, Attorney Richard D. McLellan, via the "so-called" non-profit Oxford Foundation.
The policy "Oxford Foundation - Michigan" have been working on is called Michigan Public School Finance Act of 2013. Our readers at this moment are rightfully thinking, "Hey Independent Underground, its' not 2013 yet!" That's correct and frankly makes this white paper document on how Michigan should educate its' youth in the immediate future more frighting.
The document -here for viewing- was written by Richard D. McLeallan - Secretary at the Mackinaw Center of Public Policy. ..... Derisively Atty. McLellan pins in the memorandum, Oxford Foundation - Michigan has received discussion support with writing the Public Schools Finance Act of 2013 by no other than the office of Michigan Department of Education office, Superintendent of Education Michael Flanagan. Mr. Flanagan was appointed by the State Board of Education under the administration of former Gov. Jennifer Granholm (D) May 18, 2005.
From the Oxford Foundation - Michigan, November 5, 2012 Memorandum:
"Mike Flanagan has been generous is making his staff available to discuss the concepts we are considering. Their technical knowledge is vital to assuring that what we propose is consistent with federal law and regulations. (They, of course, reserve the right to make their own conclusions regarding the wisdom of the proposals.)"
"Flanagan has been able to work with both Democrats and Republicans during his tenure, and his independent streak was on display even recently when â âthinking out loudâ â he briefly hinted he might be considering a run for U.S. Senate.
Flanagan isnât running for Senate, but he is stressing bipartisanship as the state moves forward with public education plans. Heâs pushing for more early childhood education funding and other changes.
âWe know weâre in this together,â Flanagan said at the Governorâs Education Summit on Monday, where the main theme was collaboration to better match up worker skills with employer needs.
It was also the theme of Gov. Rick Snyder's welcoming speech."
"State Superintendent Mike Flanagan told The Detroit News Monday that he's pulling a Department of Education employee off the group. Flanagan says "perception is a problem" and officials should start over while trying to "assure transparency."