Mr. Beckeman's Blog

I have provided a brief synopsis of educationally related legistation for:  ”Race to the Top”, HB 4787, HB 4788, HB 5596, SB 981 and SB 926 with  the expressed purpose of keeping you informed on potential changes to school life.

Race to the Top:

The MDE has released a summary of the “Michigan Integrated Education Reform Plan” which, in short, is the collection of the “Race to the Top” related initiatives intended to garner $400 million for the lowest performing 5% of Michigan schools.  While the reforms were hastily adopted and legislated, there is no guarantee that Michigan will receive any money from the program.  The politically charged legislation may ultimately have a positive impact as many believe that the Republicans will compromise on an increased revenue initiative (raising taxes) now that they’ve “fixed” the educational system, from their point of view, by taking over failing schools; loosening teacher certification requirements; tying teacher and administrator evaluations to student performance and achievement; creating a data system that links teachers to their students’ peformance; raising the drop-out age to 18; creating a mandatory data driven PD approach; initiating a “merit-pay” process; and easing the tenure dismissal process for teachers. 

House Bill 4787:

Failing Schools Reform which amends the Revised School Code to include the following provisions:

• Reform Failing Schools – Would allow the state to impose reforms on or take over the lowest achieving 5% of all public schools (and high schools with a graduation rate lower than 60%).  In the process, some collective bargaining agreements could be modified or eliminated beginning in 2010.
• Raise Drop-Out Age (Class of 2016) – Would raise the compulsory attendance age from 16 – 18.
• Modify Graduation Requirements- Would allow a student to modify math requirements through a Personal Curriculum Plan after 9th grade and after having attempted 1.5 math credits (currently, they must successfully complete 2.5 math credits in order to modify).

House Bill 4788

Would amend the Public Employment Relations Act to allow modification of collective bargaining agreements in failing schools that are redesigned or taken over by the state.

House Bill 5596

An alternate teacher certification plan that would amend the Revised School Code to require the Superintendent of Public Instruction to establish a process for a person to earn an interim teaching certificate (except in the area of special education).  That certificate must qualify the person to teach in the public schools.  After three years of satisfactory performance, that alternatively certified teacher may receive a full teaching certificate.  In order to qualify, the teacher must have a bachelor’s, masters, doctorate, or professional degree, have a minimum grade point average of 3.0; pass basic skills and subject area examinations as applicable.

Senate Bill 981

A Multi-Sectional Bill that would amend the Revised School Code to:

• Create Schools of Excellence (32 Charter Schools)
• Allow two statewide cyber schools, limited to 100 students each
• Mandate administrator certification
• Require that teacher and adminstrator evaluation be linked to student academic growth
• Require merit pay
• Modify the Algebra II requirement for high school graduation
• Require charter school contract renewal to be based on student achievement
• Allow charter school enrollment priority for certain charter schools
• Require closure of a charter school if it is in lowest achieving 5% of all public schools
• Require teacher and administrator evaluations to be used when considering the denial or removal of tenure or the denial of certification

Senate Bill 926

A Teacher ID system that would amend sections of the School Aid Act to require CEPI to develop a teacher ID system that would link individual pupils the teacher has taught, enabling student achievement to be correlated to teacher performance and provide data access to school adminstrators, board members and teachers.  It also adds language stating that a school board or ISD shall ensure “adequate access to basic instructional supplies” for all teachers and principals working in a school.

The bill also allows Cyber School Accomodations that provide a blanket seat-time waiver for pupils in cyber schools and provides cyber a full foundation grant for full-time enrollees.

This concludes the legislative update.  Future updates will be provided as our legislature continues to meet on these issues/bills.