ETM calls for ‘Accountability for All’

On Thursday, The Education Trust-Midwest released ‘Accountability for All: The Case for Real Charter School Authorizer Accountability in Michigan‘. The report, which includes the first-ever scorecard for charter school authorizers, highlights some that are doing a great job and others who are not.

Charter schools authorized by the 16 authorizers included on the scorecard enroll 96% of Michigan students who attend charter schools. The report was endorsed by a wide range of organizations, including the National Association of Charter School Authorizers.

Performance matters when it comes to charter authorizing in Michigan. It matters for students — and it should matter for authorizers and accountability for their decision-making.

Click here for the full report and related information.

A Look at the Top: How Washtenaw ISD Serves Students

Washtenaw ISD authorized its first school in 1995, Honey Creek Community School in Ann Arbor, which now serves students in grades K-8. Honey Creek is self-managed, meaning that the school board and staff run the school, rather than a charter operator. Washtenaw leaders say their highly selective approach to chartering has led to high learning levels for their students.

Their success — and their high standards and thoughtful authorizer practices — make them a model for other charter school authorizers across Michigan.

For more on what makes Washtenaw ISD an ‘A’ authorizer, click here.

A Look at the Bottom: Public Universities, Detroit Public Schools, represent the very bottom of the 2015 Michigan Charter Authorizer Scorecard

Northern Michigan University and Eastern Michigan University earn an “F” for their authorizing decisions and their impact on students’ learning levels. Saginaw Valley State University, Detroit Public Schools and Oakland University earned a “D” for their consistently low performance for the time period which the three-year study examined.

2015 Charter Authorizer Scorecard

For the full scorecard and a look behind the grades, please visit:www.edtrustmidwest.org/2015-charter-authorizer-scorecard.

From the Capital

HOUSE SUBCOMMITTEE ON SCHOOL AID meets Tuesday at 10:30am in room 426 of the State Capitol Building. The subcommittee will hear presentations and discuss rolling categorical program funding into the foundation allowance. For those less familiar with the budget, this discussion focuses on eliminating program-specific funding designations.

GREAT START READINESS PROGRAM is on the agenda of the Senate Subcommittee on School Aid when it meets on Wednesday at 8:30am in the Senate Appropriations Committee Room.

HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE ON EDUCATION will review the Governor’s Fiscal Year 2016 budget recommendations for the Department of Education. The meeting is at 10:30am on Wednesday in room 426 of the state Capitol Building.

Click here for the full update.