Michael Van Beek, Director of Education Policy [Mackinac Center]

Michael Van Beek joined the Mackinac Center in June 2009 as director of education policy. In this position, Van Beek oversees the Center's education research and publications, including Michigan Education Digest and Michigan Education Report.

For four years prior to working at the Center, Van Beek taught political philosophy, government, economics and history at North Hills Classical Academy, a private primary and secondary school in Grand Rapids. He also served one year as a North Hills assistant administrator, assisting with a wide variety of school issues, including budgets, curriculum and teacher-administrator relationships.

Van Beek obtained his Master of Arts in American history in 2005 from Purdue University, where he also held teaching assistantships. He received his Bachelor of Arts in 2003 from Hope College and was twice honored as the top student in the history department. In his senior year, Van Beek was voted captain of the Hope College varsity baseball team, and he was later selected the league's most valuable player by the baseball coaches of the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association.

Van Beek lives in Midland, Mich., with his wife, son and daughter.

Two Charter Public Schools Being Closed

If only all schools faced the same accountability. … more

Posted on May 14, 2013 at 3:20pm

Politics Alive and Well in Public Schools

Brandon board won't sell vacant building to charter group. … more

Posted on April 30, 2013 at 11:45am

Don't Trust Ed-Trust on Charter Schools

Group seeks ed reform, but misses mark on charters. … more

Posted on April 24, 2013 at 9:45am

The Preschool Paradox

An extra year of kindergarten vs. Great Start. … more

Posted on April 4, 2013 at 2:55pm

Teacher Merit Pay in India

A model Michigan should consider. … more

Posted on April 2, 2013 at 9:30am

Despite Claims, Michigan School Funding Higher Than a Decade Ago; Way More Than Decades Past

Published on March 18, 2013 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Great Myths About Great Start

Published on March 4, 2013 – Viewpoint on Public Issues

Average Superintendent Compensation in Michigan

Searchable database now available online. … more

Posted on February 20, 2013 at 12:30pm

Tall Tales

DPS scores get a closer look. … more

Posted on February 19, 2013 at 3:20pm

School Choice Has Helped Michigan Students

Published on Feb. 4, 2013

National School Choice Week

More than 3,500 events scheduled nationwide. … more

Posted on January 28, 2013 at 12:38pm

Charter Schools Produce Huge ROI

One-quarter less spending, 45 percent more results. … more

Posted on January 25, 2013 at 11:15am

Huffington Post Blames Charter Schools for Serving Poor Kids

Published on Jan. 24, 2013

Huffington Post Gets Charter School Study Wrong

Article ignores gains made by charter school students. … more

Posted on January 22, 2013 at 9:55am

Ed. Establishment Downplays Charter Study

New Stanford study's methedology beyond reproach. … more

Posted on January 17, 2013 at 3:25pm

Charter School Market Working

Those run by for-profits benefit students most. … more

Posted on January 16, 2013 at 1:10pm

Michigan Charter Schools a Smashing Success

New Stanford study most thorough analysis yet. … more

Posted on January 15, 2013 at 11:10am

Iceberg Ahead: Unions May Play Right-to-Work Off on Teachers

Published on Jan. 8, 2013 – Viewpoint on Public Issues

Alcohol and Merit Pay

Published on Dec. 20, 2012 – Impact

Per-Pupil Spending About Even

Fears about Oxford proposal misplaced. … more

Posted on December 18, 2012 at 9:25am

Right-to-Work: What Now for Schools?

Districts should resist union calls for contract extensions. … more

Posted on December 13, 2012 at 4:15pm

Schools Put Unions Ahead of Teachers on Right-to-Work

"Labor accord" more important than employee freedom. … more

Posted on November 30, 2012 at 3:37pm

A Quick Lesson on School Vouchers

Educators misleading on reform bills. … more

Posted on November 29, 2012 at 11:20am

The V-Word

School funding reform is not about vouchers. … more

Posted on November 21, 2012 at 10:59am

Real Merit Pay for Michigan Teachers

Published on Nov. 5, 2012 – Viewpoint on Public Issues

Super-Seniority

Are school union bosses more valuable than teachers? … more

Posted on October 25, 2012 at 8:50am

'Non-Teaching' Staff Up 702 Percent Since 1950

More teachers, more staff, more cost; lower test scores. … more

Posted on October 24, 2012 at 1:45pm

Prop 2 Means More Arbitrary Teacher Placements

Published on Oct. 24, 2012

New High School Performance Database

Online "report card" searchable, sortable. … more

Posted on October 16, 2012 at 3:20pm

What's in a Teachers Union Contract?

Lots of emphasis on the union, not much on students. … more

Posted on October 15, 2012 at 3:22pm

Merit Pay Survey

Published on Oct. 12, 2012

Merit Pay in Mattawan

For coaches, not teachers. … more

Posted on October 9, 2012 at 11:25am

Complaints About 'Parent Trigger' Miss the Mark

All parents should have this powerful tool available to them. … more

Posted on October 2, 2012 at 9:50am

Placing School Bureaucrats Before Children

Anti-charter school bill protectionist for consolidated districts. … more

Posted on September 25, 2012 at 2:20pm

News from Lake Wobegon:

All Michigan teachers are above average. … more

Posted on September 21, 2012 at 3:45pm

Time to Rethink ISDs

Published on Sept. 18, 2012

How Not to Measure Charter School Quality

Individual learning growth should be the main focus. … more

Posted on September 13, 2012 at 11:30am

Sorry Kids — Say Goodbye to Count Day Goodies

Published on Sept. 3, 2012 – Viewpoint on Public Issues

Inconvenient Truths on School Choice

School choice critics often ignore data. … more

Posted on August 20, 2012 at 1:51pm