Michigan

One of the Blaine Amendment states, Michigan is prohibited from offering private school choices, but it makes up for that in its robust charter law, which is expansive and responsive to consumers. A high number of digital learning opportunities and good teacher quality measures keep districts on their toes. And now failing school districts are finding new partners to manage their schools. All of these developments are plusses for parents.

The state permits parents some choices among traditional public schools, which permits students to attend any public school in the state, but to move from one district to another requires the districts to agree to such transfers.

SOURCE: The Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice

Michigan has a strong charter school law because it has all of the major components of a high-quality charter law. They have a variety of independent authorizers, including model universities such as Central Michigan University, freedoms for teachers from rules and regulations, and fairly equitable funding for charters.

SOURCE: The Essential Guide to Charter School Law 2013 National Ranking and Scorecard

Michigan is home to one of the nation’s largest state virtual schools---Michigan Virtual School---as well as a large district consortium with over 500 participating districts. Michigan was one of the first states in the U.S. to require high school grades to have an “online learning experience.” Barriers to access and student eligibility persist and students do not have a lot of choices in terms of providers.

SOURCE: Digital Learning Now!

Over the next few years, student growth will make up 50 percent of annual teacher and principal evaluations. Tenure decisions and professional development are connected to evidence of teacher effectiveness. Teachers who receive unsatisfactory evaluations are required to go on improvement plans, and are eventually eligible for dismissal. Ineffective classroom performance is a ground for dismissal, and performance is the top criterion for districts to consider during layoffs.

Michigan requires teachers to be compensated, at least partly based on student growth, and overall job performance.

SOURCE: National Council on Teacher Quality

Michigan has very accessible data available on school performance, but parents have to know what they are looking for to pull the right reports. Information on school options is not provided. The Detroit school board is appointed by the mayor and governor. The 552 remaining local school boards are elected mostly in May, but more and more districts are moving in the right direction to hold these elections in November.