Michigan school system

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The Michigan public school system (prekindergarten-grade 12) operates within districts governed by locally elected school boards members and superintendents. Michigan has 591 school districts and 841 public schools with approximately 1,631,200 enrolled students.[1]

The Michigan state constitution requires that the state legislature "maintain and support a system of free public elementary and secondary schools as defined by law." Additionally, the constitution notes that the legislature has the authority to provide transportation of students to and from any school.[2]

[edit] School revenues, expenditures and budget

See also: Michigan state budget
Michigan's education costs are 30% of the state budget

Gov. Jennifer Granholm recommended a $43.44 billion budget for FY 2009-2010, of which education accounts for $13.08 billion or 30.1% of the total budget.[3] In order to address the state's looming budget deficits Granholm recommended a $164 million budget cut to K-12 spending.[4] Michigan is reportedly facing a $1.7 billion budget deficit for FY 2009 and a $1.6 billion deficit for FY 2010. According to state officials, even with incoming Federal Stimulus dollars the state expects to see a $300 million shortfall.[5]

[edit] Personnel salaries

In 2008 the average Michigan teacher salary is approximately $56,000 compared to a nationwide average salary of $40,800.[6] In the 2006-07 school year Michigan had an average teacher salary of $55,541 and ranked 9th in the nation according to the American Federation of Teachers. In 2005-06 the average salary was $54,739 and ranked 7th.[7]

School year Average annual teacher salary Average beginning teacher salary
2006-07 $55,541[7] $34,100[7]
2005-06 $54,739[7] n/a[7]
2004-05 $53,959[7] $35,557[7]

[edit] Role of unions

The main unions related to the Michigan school system are Michigan Education Association (MEA), an affiliate of the National Education Association (NEA), and AFT Michigan. MEA is the largest education association in the state. For the 2003 tax period MEA had: $73.26 million in total revenue, $67.07 million in total expenses and $52.27 million in total assets.[8] AFT Michigan had: $3.67 million in total revenue, $3.69 million in total expenses and $2.29 in total assets.[9]

List of local Michigan school unions:[10]

[edit] Role of school boards

The State Board of Education serves as the general planning and coordinating body for public education. Additionally, the board advices the legislature on the financial status and requirements for public education. The superintendent is appointed by the board and serves as chairman of the board without the right to vote. The board as a whole consists of eight members which are nominated by party conventions. They are elected at large for a terms of 8 years. However, during a vacancy the governor may appoint a new member.[11]

[edit] Taxpayer-funded lobbying

See also: Michigan taxpayer-funded lobbying

The main education taxpayer-funded lobbying organizations are the Michigan Association of School Boards and the Michigan Association of School Personnel Administrators.

[edit] Transparency

See also: Michigan transparency headlines

The Mackinac Center for Public Policy is a nonpartisan research and educational institute. MichiganTransparency.org, a project of the Mackinac Center, features revenue and spending data for Michigan public school districts as reported by the state Department of Education along with categorical grant data and school checkbook registers. [12] Additionally, the organization has 5 databases that provide detailed information on state public schools, including: union contracts, revenues and expenditures.

[edit] Reports

A 2009 study, Leaders and Laggards, conducted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Institute for a Competitive Workplace, Frederick M. Hess of the conservative American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research, and the Center for American Progress, gave Michigan: "C" in academic achievement; "C" in truth in advertising about student proficiency; "C" in rigor of standards; "C" in post-secondary and workforce readiness; "B" in for its teacher workforce policies; "D" in data quality.[13]

[edit] Audits

In March 2009 Chippewa Valley and Clintondale Community Schools districts announced that they are taking steps to give taxpayers the opportunity to monitor government spending. The board of trustees approved the districts' placing the bills or check registers on the schools' websites. Clintondale district said that they are currently discussing the increasing school spending transparency.[14]

[edit] Academic performance

The chart below details the number of schools that made and did not make the (Adequate Yearly Progress) AYP for school years 2006 through 2009. AYP is used by the federal No Child Left Behind (NCLB) program to determine the academic performance of schools. In the 2008-2009 school year Michigan had a total of 3,671 schools, of which 85.62% met AYP requirements and 14.38% did not meet AYP requirements. However, 14% or 514 schools of the state's total schools have been identified for improvement.[15]

Year Schools Making AYP Schools Not Making AYP Schools Identified for Improvement Total # of schools
2008-09 3,143 528 514 3,671
2007-08 3,003 758 478 3,761
2006-07 3,153 648 383 3,801

[edit] School choice

School choice options include:

  • Charter schools: According to the Center for Education Reform, Michigan has one of the strongest charter school laws. Their most recent statistics revealed that Michigan had a total of 278 charter schools and a total of 94,919 students enrolled in charter schools.[16]
  • Public school open enrollment: in Michigan, the state has various open enrollment policies: intra-district and inter-district open enrollment. In other words, students are permitted to enroll in any school within their neighborhood school district or in any alternative district in the state.[17]
  • Online learning: the state of Michigan is one of the largest online providers in the United States. Their program is called Michigan Virtual School (MVS) which in 2007-2008 had more than 11,000 course registrations. According to state officials Michigan is scheduled to create Virtual STEM Academy for students in grades K-12.[17]

[edit] Additional reading

[edit] External links

[edit] References

  1. ↑ Michigan Department of Education,"Number of Public Schools in Michigan," retrieved September 15, 2009
  2. ↑ Michigan Constitution,"Article VIII, Section 2," retrieved September 16, 2009
  3. ↑ House Fiscal Agency, "Preliminary Review of the FY 2008-09 Executive Budget Recommendation", Feb. 17, 2009
  4. ↑ State of Michigan,"Executive Budget:Fiscal Year 2010," retrieved September 15, 2009
  5. ↑ Center on Budget and Policy Priorities,"State budget troubles worse," May 18,2009
  6. ↑ Kalamazoo Gazette,"Another look at Michigan teacher salaries," April 22, 2008
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 7.6 American Federation of Teachers,"Survey and Analysis of Teacher Salary Trends 2007," retrieved September 16, 2009
  8. ↑ Center for Union Facts,"Michigan Education Association," retrieved September 14, 2009
  9. ↑ Center for Union Facts,"AFT Michigan," retrieved September 14, 2009
  10. ↑ Center for Union Facts,"Michigan teachers unions," retrieved September 14, 2009
  11. ↑ Michigan Constitution,"Article VIII, Section 3," retrieved September 16, 2009
  12. ↑ MichiganTransparency.org
  13. ↑ U.S. Chamber of Commerce Institute,"Michigan Education Report Card," retrieved November 17, 2009
  14. ↑ The Macomb Daily,"Two school districts post checks online," March 10, 2009
  15. ↑ Michigan Department of Education,"School Report Card and AYP Information 2006-07, 2007-08, and 2008-09," retrieved September 16, 2009
  16. ↑ Center for Education Reform,"National Charter School Data," retrieved September 14, 2009
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 The Heritage Foundation,"School Choice in Michigan," retrieved September 14, 2009
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