A news service for the people of Michigan from the Mackinac Center for Public Policy

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Michigan Charter Schools a Smashing Success

… Michigan s public charter schools, and the results … results for public charter schools and their students … study matched individual charter school students to students … conventional schools those charter school students would … more

Superintendents Falsely Claim Charter Schools Shortchange Poor Children

State data shows charters serving higher percentage of low-income students than traditional public schools

… site that claimed that charter schools were serving … eligible students in charter schools than in conventional … public school districts. Charter schools had 69.8 percent … paint a picture of charter schools that is misleading," … more

The Difference With Charter Schools

In charter schools policy debates … distinction between charter public schools and district-run … Every child in every charter school is there only … number and type of charter schools. Such restrictions … more

Inaccurate Claims Buoy Attacks On Charter Public Schools

'There is no such thing as a "for-profit" charter school in Michigan'

… the district, opposed charter public schools in a … that criticized some charter schools as being for profit. Charter public schools in Michigan … services yet attack charter schools for doing the … more

New Study Shows Better Results For Public Charter School Students Compared To Students In Conventional Schools

Stanford University report took race, poverty level, English language learner and special education status into account

… in Michigan public charter schools do better academically … followed more than 85,000 charter school students in 273 … tests. Michigan public charter school students had … policies and practices for charter schools and their authorizers … more

Charters Increase Special-Ed Enrollment

… criticism lobbed against charter public schools is that … true that historically charters have had relatively … education enrollments in charters are up dramatically. According … whose parents chose charter schools had special … more

Free Press Misleads on Charter Schools

… caps on the number of charter public schools contains … dangerous. No charter public school has ever … children who attend charters are those whose parents … increase the number of charters that requires parents , … more

Charter Schools Average Smaller Class Sizes

Less top heavy than conventional schools, too

… expanding the number of charter public schools. That s … or eliminate their charter school competition. These anti-charter claims take various … common complaint of charter opponents, that charters … more
Cross your fingers

Charter School Demand Continues to Rise

… demanding more public charter schools according an … there aren't enough charters to meet demand, often … caps. For every public charter school in the country, … Michigan, two-thirds of charter schools have waiting … more

How Not to Measure Charter School Quality

… too many failing [charter] school operators. A … Trust s analysis of charter public schools is short-sighted, … a cut score for charter school quality based … School Ranking . If a charter school performed better … more

School Choice Advocates Cheer Lift of Charter Public School Cap

Bill contains 'extra level of accountability' for school performance

… the number of public charter schools that can be chartered by public universities. … 22-16 margin. Charter school advocates claim … Michigan Council of Charter School Authorizers. Seventy … more

Top 10 Charter High Schools

… list of the top 10 charter public high schools. To … more

'Stranded Costs' Will Always Be Paid by Taxpayers

… to nerf public charter schools and school contractors. The unions would like charters and contractors to … regardless of whether charters or contractors are included. Both charters and school contractors … more

Educrats Spin Conspiracy Theories

… cap on the number of charter public schools. The … increased competition from charters. The Mlive.com … child s education to a charter public school, thousands … tax dollar goes to a charter school unless parents … more

Politicians: Stop Blocking the Online Charter School Door!

Online charter schools are a promising … market demand: One online charter school is being forced … of a Michigan online charter school notes that he … taxpayer dollars, given that online charter schools generally cost … more

Michigan Charter Schools Closing While Failing Conventional Schools Stay Open

Analyst: 'That is how charter schools are held accountable'

… Flint, Center Academy charter school and Northern … distinction between how charter schools authorizers handle … recently as saying charter school authorizers should … our bad schools, both charters and traditional schools?" … more

It Shouldn’t Take a Hurricane to Revitalize Detroit Public Schools

… could be turned into charter public schools, a move … million by authorizing charter management companies … increasing the number of charter schools in a struggling … created dozens of new charter schools following Hurricane … more

Lawsuit Against Highland Park Schools Misguided

… manager selected a charter school company, the … from other Leona public charter schools. Over the summer, … more

Superintendent Uses School Email List For Politics

Head of Farmington Public Schools urges parents to oppose charter school bill

… the arbitrary cap on charter public schools. Experts … Claims Buoy Attacks On Charter Public Schools Profiting … Democrat Measure Targets Charter Public Schools Superintendents' Letter About Charter Schools 'Incredibly … more

MEA's Hyperbole About Cyber Charter Schools

… that manage online charter public schools here … two current online charters now allowed shows the … million level, online charters would have to enroll … currently on online charter waiting lists, the schools … more

Charter Schools Not At Fault For Conventional School Failures

Charter schools open because parents want choices

… district systems to charter schools. "Under … open more and more charters and cyber charters, we are dissipating … in terms of opening charter and cyber schools, she … more

Status Quo School Defenders: Money For Me, But Bad For Thee

Current administrators making over $200K per year fight changes to the system

… said they would expand charter schools and hurt funding … (2012) Cook said that charter schools pay private … more

Grand Rapids TV Viewers May Experience Blackouts

… 29, 2012.) Charter Cable customers accustomed … fees received from Charter Communications. The … retransmission clash between Charter and LIN, a holding company … ongoing. In Michigan, Charter pays LIN for the retransmission … more

Commentary: Charter Schools Face Discrimination in Michigan

Lawmakers should insist that charters can acquire school buildings

… on the number of charter public schools in Michigan. … maybe hundreds of new charters will help families … advantage of online charter schools. Currently, … concerns brick-and-mortar charter schools' ability to … more
Aspirin

The Public School Pension Fund’s Problem Is Not Charter Schools

… recommending that public charter schools pay more. But … contributions from charter schools would have only … cost. Currently, charter schools pay according … however, because many charter school personnel, including … more

District Refuses to Sell Unused Building to Public Charter School — Despite Receiving $250K Asking Price

Battle Creek Public Schools pays tens of thousands of dollars per year to maintain empty school

… building that came from a charter public school. Ron … was looking to open a charter elementary school and … after receiving the charter school's bid. The … to the president for charter schools at Grand Valley … more

The Republicans Who Blocked Charter School Choice

Nearly a decade after Gov. Engler failed, Gov. Snyder has GOP smelling victory on charter school choice expansion

Before the creation of charter public schools in … today, a majority of charters have a wait list, … place their students in charter schools this year can … increase the number of charters allowed under law. … more

MichCapCon Flashback: The Republicans Who Blocked Charter School Choice

Nearly a decade after Gov. Engler failed, Gov. Snyder has GOP smelling victory on charter school choice expansion

… would remove a cap on charter public schools. The … original bill that allowed charter schools placed a cap … week? Before the creation of charter public schools in … today, a majority of charters have a wait list, and … more

School Takeovers: Much Criticism, No Solutions

… voiced about plans to "charterize" the fiscally and … independently managed charter schools to provide education … basis will fund the charter schools, while local … uttered about for-profit charter school management companies … more

Choice For Me But Not For Thee?

School district supports 'schools of choice,' but opposes charters

… choice when it comes to charter and cyber schools in … appears to attack charter public schools, although … unlimited for-profit charters and cyber schools … wasn t about opposing charter schools. The … more

A Better Choice, Less Than a Mile Away

… High School, a public charter school that received … more

State Board of Education President Makes False Voucher Claims

John Austin is also a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, which says vouchers have 'statistically positive impacts' for college attendance

… set up in 1994 when charter schools were introduced. He said … computers and buses. Charter schools, however, are … public school boards. Charter schools often choose to … enroll in the public charter school and the charter … more

Parents Pin Hopes on Charter School Lottery

… Washtenaw County public charter school that has become … third among public charter schools on the latest … take place at public charter schools across Michigan … By law, any time a charter school has more applications … more

Union Friendly GOP Legislator Spurned by Big Labor

Rep. Zorn target of union attacks after voting for more charter schools

… enrollment in cyber charter schools , it infuriated … vote against the cyber charter school bill. Brennan … more

Dec. 16 MichiganVotes.org Weekly Roll Call Report

… 618 , Eliminate charter school cap: Passed 22 … 150 on the number of charter schools that can be … 618 , Eliminate charter school cap: Passed 58 … 150 on the number of charter schools that can be authorized … more

August 10, 2012, MichiganVotes.org Weekly Roll Call

… Bill 5754 : Authorize charter boarding school for … Olumba (D), to allow charter schools to operate residential … more

How Many Voters Will Miss The Bottom Of The Ballot?

Allen Park looks to end crony subsidy deals

… supporters of a local charter amendment on the ballot … a case for it. The charter amendment his group … IOUs . The Allen Park charter amendment on this year's … are opposed to the charter amendment. He describes … more

Will Unions Take Over Charter Public Schools?

… unions have fought charter schools tooth-and-nail: … union now authorizes charter schools and wants to … way to take on the charter school movement. The … Eduwonk. [I]t is also true that charter schools are not going … more

Commentary: Research Shows Parental Choice Works

… 150 on the number of charter public schools that … choice programs like charter schools, private school … found evidence that charter schools boost student … English and math for charter school students compared … more

Cap on Charter Public Schools Eliminated

Five House Republicans and four Senate Republicans vote 'no'

… arbitrary 150-school cap on charter public schools dates … eliminates the cap on charter schools in Michigan. Five … university-authorized charter schools was historic, … on waiting lists for charter schools. Democrats, … more

Breaking News: House Vote Would Force Charter Schools Into Underfunded Pension System

… that would force every charter school in the state … Report , most of the 4,000 charter school teachers in Michigan currently … Around 30 percent of charter school teachers those who … teachers employed by charter schools to enroll in … more

Democrat Measure Targets Charter Public Schools

… groups that manage charter schools, with the fact … state's longstanding charter school cap. This was … remove Michigan's cap on charter schools, essentially … on the expansion of charter schools and cyber schools … more

Parents Pin Hopes on Charter School Lottery

… would remove a cap on charter public schools. The … bill that allowed charter schools placed a cap … Washtenaw County public charter school that has become … third among public charter schools on the latest … more

Superintendents' Letter About Charter Schools 'Incredibly Misleading'

12 superintendents sign statement with 'completely inaccurate' claim

… that support expanding charter and cyber schools contained … schools, including charter public schools outside … she attends, such as a charter school. The letter s … Remember, these (charter schools) are public … more

Michigan Charter Schools Host ‘Meet the Candidate’ Nights

… Michigan's largest charter school association will … more

Public School District 'Strikes Out' on Criticism of Charter Public Schools

Berkley School Board approves resolution with 'inaccurate' claims

… this week that called charter public schools and online … Policy. Berkley s claim that charter schools and cyber schools … inaccurate, Van Beek said. Charter and cyber schools are … conventional public schools. Charter schools do contract … more

House Has Rare Opportunity With Charter Public School Cap Vote

State Rep: 'Should we only assure quality education by zip code?'

… place her children in a charter public school. She testified … currently the state's charter cap is blocking the … the cap on Michigan's charter schools. Senate … would eliminate the charter cap and is currently … more

Recall Retaliation? Senate Pushes Charter School Cap Repeal 'Union-Unfriendly' Reforms

Analyst: By bankrolling recalls, MEA union bosses 'may have brought a knife to a gunfight'

… limit the number of charter public schools authorized … state universities, and charter schools authorized by … convert the school to a charter, according to a GOP … largest authorizers of charter schools in Michigan, … more

MichiganVotes.org Jan. 14 Weekly Roll Call Report

… Bill 4019 (Eliminate charter school cap) Introduced … cap on the number of charter schools chartered by state universities. … more

Democratic Proposal: Charter Public Schools Must Outperform Conventional School Test Scores by 20 Percent

… senators don t think charter public schools should … cap on the number of charter schools allowed in the … would have required charter schools to demonstrate … district in which the charter is located. That … more

Administrator Group Rails Against Education 'Profiteers;' Makes Millions Off Schools

… calls for profit charter schools. In an op-ed , … the myth that only charter schools benefit financially … different from the charter school that hires a … is only criticizing charter schools for hiring for-profit … more

Voters Avert Disaster by Rejecting Proposal 2

… be improved (e.g., charter schools, emergency financial … more

School Officials Using Technology For Advocacy

District officials urge parents to take action against reform using Capwiz system

… Bills Superintendents Falsely Claim Charter Schools Shortchange … more

Top 10 Conventional High Schools

… schools that are neither charter schools nor selective-admissions … more

School Funding at All-Time High

… also show that public charter schools spent on average … per-pupil expenditures, charters spent about 17 percent … making the total non-charter school spending about … more

Taylor, Huizenga Join Center Board

… Justice Cliff Taylor and charter public school entrepreneur … operates more than 70 charter public schools in nine … college preparatory charter high schools in Michigan … more

Excuses Don't Change Facts

… card somehow favors charter schools. This, too, … of whether it was a charter, conventional or selective … card happened to be a charter public school, but this … somehow skewed. Several charter schools did poorly on … more

Michigan School Spending Hits All-Time High

… terms (not including charter public schools or districts … the lowest-spending charter school was Virtual Learning … more

Average Teacher Salary in Michigan Rises Again

… figure at $63,024. If charter schools are excluded, … (this does not include charter school teachers). This … more

Inconvenient Truths on School Choice

… are several studies of charter public schools that … in a study of Boston charters, and a study by Stanford … Caroline Hoxby showed charter school students in New … more
Cincinnatus

Emergency Managers Fill the Role of Modern-Day Cincinnatus

… (some of which will be charter schools), granting them … a similar model to charter the entire district. … instruction in these new charter schools, instead of … can, but these new charter schools freed from … more

Emergency Manager Law Makes Pontiac Reforms Possible

… some instances a city charter may do likewise. One … enshrined in its city charter. This drove up costs … contents of a city charter. Schimmel started … more

Helpful Facts About Michigan's Public Sector

… districts (excluding charters). The average salary … inflation (excluding charter school teachers) Michigan … more

Virtual Learning Can Improve Student Outcomes and Save Money

… Michigan s virtual charter schools and dozens of … the number of virtual charter schools in Michigan … more

Telling Tales Out of School

… More than 300 public charter schools are also thriving … more
IMP2012-01

25 Reforms in 2011

… each below). 4. Charter school cap eliminated. … 150 on the number of charter schools authorized by … means by which most charters are created) has been … million to create Detroit charter high schools with a … more

Rose Beats Tarkenton to the Post

… Leadership Academy , a charter high school, in his … more

Can School Choice Work in Detroit?

… district has been charterized, with individual … more

April 27, 2012, MichiganVotes.org Weekly Roll Call

… 619 , Increase online charter "cyber-school" enrollment … to just two online charter schools and 1,000 students … districts to create online charter schools serving students … more

Milton Friedman and School Choice

… are evident in the charter public school and online … more

A 'Business as Usual' Comeback?

… to convert it into a charter school, another advancing … more

Feb. 24, 2012 MichiganVotes.org Weekly Roll Call

… school districts and charter schools near the effectively-bankrupt … more

Center Study Compares Financial Data for Michigan’s Urban, Suburban, Town and Rural School Districts

… the period. Public charter schools were not part … more

Acts of God

Don't like the EFM law? There's an alternative: Rein in government employee unions

… turned over to private charters. As a regular … more

June 8, 2012, MichiganVotes.org Weekly Roll Call

… parent trigger charter school conversion of … essentially converted into a charter school if 60 percent … more

2011 MichiganVotes.org Roll Call Highlights

… 618 , Eliminate charter school cap: Passed 22 … 150 on the number of charter schools that can be … more

The Legislature Must Fix Teacher Pensions the Right Way

… wasn t the rise of charter public schools and school … more
Virtual Learning cover

A Virtual Learning Revolution

… also has two virtual charter schools that serve students … more

Reforming Compensation at State Universities is Tricky Due to State Constitution

… News: House Vote Would Force Charter Schools Into Underfunded … more

Back-to-School Daze

Can Public School Districts Require Parents to Buy Necessary School Supplies?

… school district and charter school, provides examples … more

Public Schools: 'Profit' Bad For Others, Good For Us

Superintendent speaking out on school choice earns $250K in compensation; school has 15 executives making over $120K

… schools in Michigan. Some charter schools do hire for-profit … referring to "for-profit charter and cyber schools." Another … making is that public charter schools don't have the … in 2011-2012, while charters had 9.2 percent of … more

Education Choice For Students, Parents Won't Destroy Communities, Schools

'The only ways this argument works is if you assume parents would flee conventional school districts in hordes if given the chance'

… legislation expanding charter school options and … etc. Since the advent of charter schools in Michigan, … are being served in charter schools, who by the … Capitol Confidential Charter School Coverage more

Media Plays Into 'Unfounded Hysteria' Over School Reforms

Proposal would allow more school choice for parents and students

… lift the cap on online charter schools. Those impact … evaluation reforms? Charter school cap? "Descriptions … more

Debating the Cost of Parents' Picking Schools

… Palladium claiming charter schools spend considerably … MEA s take implies that charter schools aren t putting … Beek points out that charter schools have more instructional … The pupil-teacher ratio for charters is 20-to-1, versus … more

GOP's 'No' Votes On School Choice Defend Their Decisions

… eliminating the cap on charter schools in Michigan, … eliminating the cap on charter public schools as expressed … that door. We have one charter school, which does a … had taken. I support charter schools in areas where … more

EduJobs Bill a "Gift to Unions"

Many charter schools in Michigan … said a spokesman for charter schools. At issue … Seventy-one percent of charter schools use employees … million. Naeyaert said very few charter school teachers belong … more

Profiting As Nonprofits: Schools Provide 'Lucrative' Pay and Benefits Despite Status

… letter criticizing charter public schools and raising … status of some of the charter school s contracted … officials have criticized charter schools for contracting … ban for profit charter schools . Already … more
MCC2009-4

“First Class” Schools?

House votes special benefits for Detroit

… the creation of additional charter public schools within … district from additional charter school competitors. Adding more charters within the city has … million for 15 brand-new charter high schools in the … more

Walled Lake District Tells Parents That Parental Choice Proposal Threatens Funding

… cap on the number of charter schools and cyber schools. Charter schools and cyber schools … Republicans Who Blocked Charter School Choice Recall … Retaliation? Senate Pushes Charter School Cap Repeal … more

An Impromptu Fishing Trip Isn't 'Pure Michigan'

… Marquette, says he has a charter boat he uses for fishing … the captain of the charter boat is required to … Individuals fishing on that charter boat don't need a license. The … license, and that the charter boat also needs a license. An … more

Debating Failing Schools

… choice, particularly charter schools, and teacher … cap on the number of charter schools that can operate … lawmakers to create charter school caps, because most charters are not unionized. Weingarten … more

Teachers' Union Fails Accounting 101

Union reports revenues as profits in claims about cyber school operator

… that would allow more charter online cyber schools, … provides curriculum for charter cyber schools made … Building to Public Charter School Despite Receiving … Advocates Cheer Lift of Charter Public School Cap Charter … more

Average Teacher Salaries Continue to Rise

… teachers in public charter schools, which has the … to 2008 (including charter teachers) declines by … for inflation. But charter school enrollment increased … enrollments in public charter schools also limits … more

House Votes To Raise Cyber School Cap

… cap on the number of charter schools in Michigan. What … ended up going to a charter school - and herself, … Building to Public Charter School Despite … Advocates Cheer Lift of Charter Public School Cap Charter … more

Berkley School District: Response

… resolution against charter public schools. The … claiming that the proposed charters and cyber schools are … states that the proposed charter and cyber schools are … dollars will flow. Most charters make in excess of $1000 … more

Michigan Department of Education Miscalculates Average Teacher Salary

Department corrects its error; revised figures available

… however, had included some charter school teachers in the … percent. Charter school teachers generally … year (conventional and charter) was $62,272, or $3,551 … more
Tea Part Counter Protest

Tea Partiers Counter-Protest Government Union 'Lobby Day'

… morning sat three idling charter buses that had brought … get here, not fancy charter buses. With a handheld … the other side s chartered buses: Who paid … more

'We Found a Place Where Our Children's Safety Would Never Be An Issue'

An interview with a cyber school parent

… publicly funded cyber charter public schools. No more … Michigan s two cyber charter schools Michigan Virtual Charter Academy . Why … Idaho K-12 Virtual Charter school program. Once … more

Analyst: Firefighter Overtime Reform ‘Watered Down’

… requirements into their charters. Robertson said about … that you can t use a charter of government as a blunt … more

Tight security locked out dozens of anti-right-to-work protesters from the State Capitol as Governor Snyder was delivering his "State of the State" address. Protesters tried to disrupt the speech by banging and chanting outside the building.

Most Popular

SEIU TAKES $33M AND COUNTING
FROM MICHIGAN HOME HELP PROGRAM PROVIDERS — OFTEN FAMILY MEMBERS

ATTORNEY GENERAL ORDERED THE STATE TO STOP TAKING MONEY ON MAY 25, 2012
[clock1]
Skimmed since November 2006
[clock2]
Skimmed after reaching the MI Senate in June 2011
[clock3]
Skimmed after the bill was signed April 10, 2012
[clock4]
Skimmed after the Attorney General
opinion May 25, 2012

The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) "organized” Michigan's self-employed Home Help Program providers for the purpose of skimming dues from their ailing and disabled clients' Medicaid subsidy checks. The majority of these providers are relatives or friends taking care of loved ones. It’s been estimated that less than 25 percent of the providers are hired in an employment setting.

The first counter tallies SEIU dues skimmed since the union and state officials first launched this scheme in late 2006. The second shows the amount skimmed since June 9, 2011, when the Michigan House passed and sent to the Senate a bill to ban this and all similar “stealth unionization” efforts. The third counter shows the dues skimmed since the Governor signed the bill into law on April 10, 2012. The fourth counter shows the amount skimmed since May 25, 2012, when the Attorney General opinion was announced.

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