New State Oversight of East Detroit Schools
African Americans & Hispanics More Likely to see a College Degree as Key To Middle Class
What does it take to be considered a part of the middle class? According to a new Pew Research Center survey, black and Hispanic respondents are twice as likely to identify a college education as key to being middle class than white respondents.
According to Anna Brown, research assistant at Pew Research Center, “the share of adults saying a college education is necessary to be middle class has actually fallen since 2012.” This shift comes during a time when the disparities in annual earnings between college graduates and people with a high school graduation or less, is at an all time high.
“Priority” list shrinks, State CEO for East Detroit Schools
The School Reform Office – which was moved last spring from the Michigan Department of Education to the Governor’s Department of Technology, Management and Budget – announced the removal of thirty schools from Michigan’s “priority schools” list.
Schools are placed on the list poor academic performance, when they rank among the bottom five percent of all schools statewide on the Top-to-Bottom list.
Additionally, the State will install a Chief Executive Officer to oversee four schools: Bellview Elementary, Pleasantview Elementary, Kelly Middle, and East Detroit High schools. According to the state School Reform Office, the CEO will have “full authority over academics” and be responsible to the state office, rather than the local school board.
Capital Update
State Board of Education is now meeting. Ladislaus B. Dombrowski Board Room, Fourth Floor, Hannah Building or watch online. Click here for the meeting agenda.
Committee on Elections passed House Bill 5219 (Lyons – R), which is intended to address concerns by many school districts, advocates and municipal governments – including The Education Trust-Midwest – that called for Governor Snyder to veto Senate Bill 571 (Kowall – R) in late 2015. Upon his signing of that law – which prohibits schools, libraries and other local governments from communicating about millages, bonds and other local ballot measures for 60 days prior to election – Governor Snyder urged the legislature to correct this issue.
Committee on Government Affairs. Last week, the committee heard testimony on SBs 710 and 711 (Hansen – R), both related to Detroit Public Schools. Video of the hearing is available here. Another hearing on the legislation is scheduled for today, February 9, and 12:30 pm in the Senate Hearing Room – Boji Tower. Click here for a live stream of the hearing.
Upcoming Meetings:
Senate Education Committee and School Aid Appropriations Subcommittee. Tuesday, February 16 at 8:30 am. Senate Hearing Room – Boji Tower. Agenda: Presentation by State Superintendent on academically failing schools and federal reauthorizers of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.
