Bridges4Kids Logo

 
About Us Breaking News Find Help in Michigan Find Help in the USA Find Help in Canada Inspiration
IEP Goals Help4Parents Disability Info Homeschooling College/Financial Aid Summer Camp
IEP Topics Help4Teachers Homework Help Charter/Private Insurance Nutrition
Ask the Attorney Become an Advocate Children "At-Risk" Bullying Legal Research Lead Poisoning
 
Bridges4Kids is now on Facebook. Follow us today!
 

 

Michigan Senate Says Yes To High School Charters

Printer-friendly Version

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.

 

back to the top     ~     back to Breaking News     ~     back to What's New

 

Thank you for visiting https://www.bridges4kids.org/.
 

bridges4kids does not necessarily agree with the content or subject matter of all articles nor do we endorse any specific argument.  Direct any comments on articles to deb@bridges4kids.org.

© 2002-2021 Bridges4Kids

 

NOTE: (ALL RESOURCES PRE-IDEA 2004 ARE FOR INFORMATIONAL/HISTORICAL RESEARCH PURPOSES ONLY)