Home » News

The Legislature recently wrapped up the year by passing a significant package of education reforms that will dramatically improve Michigan schools. We worked hard to pass these long-overdue bills in time to make Michigan eligible for federal "Race to the Top" funding. President Obama and Education Secretary Duncan have emphasized that states must take the lead in reforming education, and up to $4.35 billion in "Race to the Top" grants are available to states that do so.

In the coming weeks, the U.S. Department of Education will accept applications for this money. Michigan stands to receive up to $400 million. Yet, while the possibility of receiving federal money provided the impetus to complete these reforms this month, as Chair of the House Education Committee, I started work on reforming education more than a year ago.

While the federal money would be a tremendous benefit to our school districts, the reforms will improve Michigan's schools regardless of whether we receive it. I believe these reforms should have been passed a long time ago and I would have supported them without the federal incentives. 

These reforms focus on two major elements: accountability for all in the educational system and giving children access to the best schools and programs available no matter where they live or how much money their family makes.

Here is an overview of some parts of the legislation, which will soon be signed into law:

• Requires the state superintendent to hire a state reform officer, who will be responsible for restructuring the lowest-performing schools. Local districts would have 90 days to develop a redesign plan that includes a new labor agreement for individual schools. The state may intervene if the redesign plan is not agreed to or implemented.
• Creates Schools of Excellence. These are high performing charter schools (the best of the best) that will be rewarded with the opportunity to open up an additional high-performing school in areas of high need. Schools of Excellence will be required to offer high school grades.
• The state will now close the lowest-performing charter schools.
• Raises the dropout age from 16 to 18.
• Mandates that districts use student growth data in evaluating and compensating teachers and administrators. The bottom line is that from here on out teachers and administrators will be judged on whether the children are actually learning.  Ineffective teachers will be removed and good teachers will be rewarded.
• Increases use of data to improve student instruction.
• Requires school administrators to complete a certification program.
• Allows alternative routes for individuals to receive an interim teaching certificate.
• Mandates that teachers and administrators have adequate access to instructional supplies and allows the state to withhold payments to districts so their educators can acquire them. Teachers and administrators must have the basic instructional supplies to be able to teach our children. No more children and teachers going without books!
• Allows for two pilot cyber schools to be opened. 

These changes will transform our schools and make Michigan a national leader in education reform. As the lead House negotiator on this package, I'm proud that months of work came to fruition in a bipartisan agreement that will help make sure that all our schools provide the high-quality education that every child in Michigan deserves.

Click on this link to view a more detailed overview of the legislation:  http://www.timmelton.com/document_10.html