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MIRS,
September 24, 2008
A bill that would OK background checks on substitute bus drivers
turned into a way for the Senate to greenlight charter high
schools aimed squarely at Detroit.
On count day, when schools tally their student population used
for state funding, the bill passed, 20-18. Sen. Roger KAHN
(R-Saginaw) crossed over to vote with the Democrats in
opposition. Detroit Public Schools (DPS) is expected to drop
below 100,000, which means it won't be considered a first-class
school district unless boilerplate language is changed.
Sen. Wayne KUIPERS (R-Holland) tacked on an amendment to SB 1252
that removes the sunset on charters, which Sen. Gretchen WHITMER
(D-East Lansing) complained wasn't germane to the bill. She said
Kuipers should have introduced new legislation.
"This has nothing to do with bus drivers," agreed the bill's
sponsor, Sen. John GLEASON (D-Flushing).
"I rise in opposition to my own legislation," he added.
But Kuipers told MIRS there "wasn't enough time" to pop a fresh
bill, saying, "We hit a few speed bumps." He said the amendment
was just an easier solution. It repeals Section 1 of Public Act
1 of 2008 that amends the School Code to substitute "student
with a disability" for "handicapped student." Kuipers said it
would amend several sections of P.A. 151 of 1976, as amended by
P.A. 680 of 2006.
"We're not trying to hide anything from anybody," he said on the
floor.
The amendment passed 19-17 on second reading, with Sens. Bruce
PATTERSON (R-Canton) and Tupac HUNTER (D-Detroit) not voting.
Whitmer proposed an amendment to repeal the amendment on third
reading, which Kuipers derided as "repulsive." It failed, 18-19.
Sen. Buzz THOMAS (D-Detroit) said he was a big proponent of
charters but didn't support a "piece-by-piece" approach. His
amendment to have the definition of a first-class school
district changed to apply to the school district with the most
students failed.
The Education Committee Chair said it was frustrating that so
many charters include only grades K-8, when high schools are
needed. He called DPS a "failed school district" and said the
state couldn't just keep doing "the same old, same old."
"We've taken a hands-off approach for years," Kuipers said.
"That stops today."
Patterson, a DPS grad, declared it was "cruelly ironic that the
Detroit Public Schools would be described as first-class."
In committee this afternoon, Kuipers entertained a presentation
from charter schools advocates and their success across the
country. Nelson SMITH, CEO of the National Alliance of Public
Charter Schools said his organization represents 1.3 million
students and there are 300 to 400 new schools every year.
"We can't keep up with demand," he said.
Aaron BRENNER, a Michigan native working with the Knowledge Is
Power Program (KIPP), which has 66 charter schools across the
country and 16,000 students, testified about the success in
Houston.
He said school days are longer and include weekends and summer
classes. The ability to fire teachers at will is an advantage,
he said, in finding educators right for the school.
The vast majority of students are low-income and minorities.
Brenner said standardized test scores, student achievement and
graduation rates are high. A new study of Bay Area KIPP schools
showed attrition rates of about 60 percent, but Brenner said the
worst school had a 30 percent rate. In Houston, he said it's
less than 3 percent.
Brenner said he was very concerned about Detroit's schools and
Michigan's recession, arguing that education is the key to
turning the economy around.
Kuipers said Michigan has "way too many school districts" and
expressed interest in site-based management, rather than through
a central office. Brenner said a central office helped with some
bureaucratic matters like busing.
Kuipers indicated that the charter school issue would be a hot
one.
"We'll be continuing the dialogue in this state for the next
couple months," he promised.
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