GVSU gets high mark in our ‘Accountability for All’ report
Grand Valley gets high mark in our ‘Accountability for All’ report
One of the goals of our recent report, “Accountability for All,” was to celebrate the good work being done by many charter school authorizers in Michigan, institutions like Grand Valley State University (GVSU).
GVSU, which authorized its first charter school in 1995 and now authorizes more than 60 schools with more than 30,000 students across the state, proves how discerning authorizing practices can produce strong charter schools, even for students who may come to school far behind. For example, University Prep Science and Math High School in Detroit, one of the schools authorized by Grand Valley, has 65 percent low-income students but shows significantly higher improvement in math than the average Michigan high school. In fact, the school ranks among the top 30 schools for high school math improvement in Michigan, out of roughly 550 high schools statewide.
A “B” authorizer in our scorecard, GVSU doesn’t have a perfect track record, but it’s clearly doing many things right, and we see evidence of good decision-making in the many high-performing, high-poverty schools it authorizes.
Take a look at ‘Accountability for All.’ for more on the good work by GVSU.
Good Luck, Juniors – ACT time in Michigan
Today, 11th graders across the state will take the ACT and The Education Trust-Midwest wishes all test-takers much wisdom and luck.
The ACT, a college admissions exam, has been a standard fixture of the school calendar since the state began offering an in-school, no cost-to-students, admissions exam in 2007. Beginning next year, Michigan will be switching to the SAT. Both exams are accepted by all Michigan colleges and universities.
According to the state, the move to the SAT will cost less, offer more test preparation opportunities for students and will more closely align with Michigan’s academic standards.
Stephen vs. Nolan – MiWeek talks charter authorizers
Report card time for Michigan’s charter school authorizers. The Education Trust-Midwest graded the organizations based on student achievement and improvement. The MiWeek team takes a look at the scores and examines whether all schools are being held accountable for results.
From the Capital
SCHEDULED COMMITTEE HEARINGS:
HOUSE SCHOOL AID APPROPRIATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE
Tuesday, March 3 at 10:30am – Capitol Building, Room 426
Agenda: Presentations on the use of state at-risk program funding and federal Title 1 program funding
SENATE SCHOOL AID APPROPRIATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE
Wednesday, March 4 at 8:30am – 3rd Floor, Capitol Building, Senate Appropriations Committee Room
Agenda: Discussion on Career and Technical Education
HOUSE EDUCATION APPROPRIATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE
Wednesday, March 4 at 10:30am – Capitol Building, Room 426
Agenda: Overview of the Child Development and Care (CDC) program and proposed programming increases.
JOINT MEETING OF THE HOUSE AND SENATE SCHOOL AID APPROPRIATIONS SUBCOMMITTEES
Thursday, March 5 at 8am – Capitol Building, Room 352
Agenda: quarterly report by the State Superintendent on Deficit Districts
Click here for full update.
