State Superintendent Mike Flanagan to stay on the job
The Michigan Board of Education has extended the contract of state Superintendent of Public Instruction Mike Flanagan, the Associated Press reports. The AP reports:The decision means Flanagan will...
View ArticleJeb Bush in Lansing to talk education reform
Since he left office in 2008, former Governor of Florida Jeb Bush has been heading up the nonprofit Foundation for Excellence in Education.The foundation's goal is to "ignite a movement of reform,...
View ArticlePontiac school finances face state scrutiny
The state is set to take a preliminary look at the financial situation of Pontiac's public schools, a step that could eventually lead to the appointment of an emergency manager.
View ArticleSuperintendent: School funding reform should include early childhood, college
The state’s education chief says money for early childhood education and community colleges needs to be part of fixing Michigan’s school funding system. Mike Flanagan is the Michigan Superintendent of...
View ArticleIn this morning's news: education work groups, floods receding, trust fund...
Mike Flanagan announces public work group on educationMike Flanagan, the state's superintendent, announced the formation of his own public education work group at Governor Snyder's education summit in...
View ArticleCommentary: Education for education's sake
I was struck by something Superintendent of Schools Mike Flanagan said yesterday at the Governor’s Education Summit.This year’s summit was largely designed to examine how educators at all levels could...
View ArticleIn this morning's news: decriminalizing marijuana, truancy and welfare,...
Bill to decriminalize marijuana introduced in state LegislatureState Representative Jeff Irwin (D-Ann Arbor) has introduced a bill in the state Legislature that would make possession of one ounce or...
View ArticleState reviewing finances of Hazel Park schools
Michigan's top educator has ordered a financial review of the Hazel Park schools, a step that could lead to a state takeover of the suburban Detroit district.The Detroit Free Press says state schools...
View ArticleMichigan's State Superintendent wants to move toward county-wide school...
One hundred years ago, the state of Michigan had more than 7,000 local school districts.There are slightly more than 800 school districts today, and many of them are struggling with their finances.
View ArticleIn this morning's news: Detroit pension systems, consolidating school...
Detroit's pension systems vs. Kevyn OrrDetroit has two pension systems and both have posted fairly strong funding levels. But emergency manager Kevyn Orr has questioned some of those numbers. Orr...
View ArticleStreamlining our public schools is a smart move
Virtually everybody agrees Michigan has too many public school districts. Some are too small to provide adequate educational opportunities for their students, in part because they have difficulty...
View ArticleThis week in Michigan politics: Consolidating schools, creditors' bus tour,...
This week in Michigan politics, Jack Lessenberry and Emily Fox discuss the proposal to consolidate school districts into county-wide systems, the canceled bus tour for Detroit creditors, and the new...
View ArticleWhat would happen if we consolidated schools into county-wide districts?
More and more of our local school districts are in financial trouble, and State Superintendent of Schools Mike Flanagan has a couple ideas as to what we can do about it.As I discussed briefly last...
View ArticleState lawmakers begin hearings on Common Core, anger and frustration ensues
Debate is underway in Lansing about whether to implement a set of state school standards.A state House panel held its first meeting on Common Core State Standards Tuesday.Republican Representative Tom...
View ArticleBuena Vista and Inkster schools have until Monday to avoid closure
The financially troubled Michigan school districts of Inkster and Buena Vista have until 5 p.m. Monday, July 22 to prove they have the money to run their school districts and that they have plans to...
View ArticleMichigan ending its exclusive contract with the EAA
The Michigan Department of Education will end its exclusive contract with the Education Achievement Authority to oversee some of the state's lowest-performing schools.State Superintendent Mike Flanagan...
View ArticleFlanagan: "The MEAP’s not an option" for next year
State Superintendent Mike Flanagan is warning Michigan lawmakers against trying to take a step back on school testing.An amendment to next year’s school aid budget would require schools to give the...
View ArticleMichigan schools’ finances “stabilizing,” says state superintendent
Late last year, the state’s top education official had dire predictions for the finances of Michigan schools. He predicted the number of districts in deficit could reach 100 “before long.”Now, state...
View ArticleState leaders question oversight role when charter companies run entire...
State Superintendent Mike Flanagan says the consequences of turning entire school districts over to for-profit charter school companies deserves more consideration from state lawmakers.Flanagan told a...
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