Education

MEAP scores to be adjusted

Nicole Walton — Mon, 20 May 2013 13:59:10 +0000

LANSING, MI (AP)-- Some students will get new Michigan Educational Assessment program math scores after a problem with some questions on the exam.

The Detroit Free Press and the Detroit News report new scores will be for grades 4, 7 and 8, as well as an exam for special education students in grades 3-8.

The tests included questions that state officials had promised schools wouldn't be included.

Snow day students face longer days

Nicole Walton — Mon, 20 May 2013 13:54:06 +0000

LANSING, MI (AP)-- Governor Rick Snyder has signed legislation that will allow schools with too many snow days to avoid having to schedule extra days in June.

The Republican governor signed the bill Thursday. It means that school districts that have more than six snow days this year can have longer days for the rest of the school year instead of adding days at the end of the year.

Snyder says the bill will help schools faced with many snow days this year, especially in Northern and Western Michigan.

More snow days may mean longer school days for MI students

Nicole Walton — Wed, 15 May 2013 14:44:35 +0000

LANSING, MI (AP)-- Michigan schools with too many snow days may avoid having to schedule extra days in June. But students still may not be happy with the remedy.

The House gave final approval Tuesday to a bill that would let schools schedule longer days. It passed, 106-1, and now goes to Governor Rick Snyder.

Supporters say the change is needed because some schools in northern Michigan had more than the maximum six snow days.

Lawmakers discuss merit pay for MI teachers

Nicole Walton — Mon, 13 May 2013 11:46:05 +0000

LANSING, MI (AP)-- Michigan teachers' performance would play a bigger role in the amount they get in their paychecks under a proposal being debated in the Republican-controlled state House.

A bill recently debated in the House Education Committee would make teacher job performance the primary factor in determining pay. It would render meaningless years on the job and some advanced degrees.

Under current law, job performance only has to be one factor in teacher pay, along with the number of years in the classroom and achievement of advanced degrees.

NMU Board of Trustee sets rates for 2013-14

Hans Ahlström — Sat, 04 May 2013 18:16:00 +0000

MARQUETTE, MI -

The N-M-U Board of Trustees met Friday to consider several issues including the university’s overall budget and room-and-board.

The board authorized the university to continue in 2013-14 at a budget level no greater than the current year—with the exception of increases required by negotiated union contracts—until the state’s appropriation is determined and a new general fund budget is approved.

The annual cost of room-and-board is set to increase.

State Board of Ed president in MQT Monday

Hans Ahlström — Sat, 04 May 2013 18:13:00 +0000

MARQUETTE, MI -

State Board of Education president John Austin will be in Marquette Monday to speak at a Marquette-Alger Regional Educational Service Agency forum. Austin will present an overview of recent and anticipated activity for public education… and address key points important to the area including education reform, change, and success factors. The forum, entitled “Public Education in Michigan: Challenges, Opportunities and Impact” takes place Monday at 4pm at the MARESA office at 321 East Ohio Street in Marquette.

Michigan lawmakers haggle over education funding

Nicole Walton — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 14:03:08 +0000

LANSING, MI (AP)-- Majority Republicans in the Michigan Legislature are split over spending plans for K-12 schools, public universities and community colleges.

Budgets that moved forward Wednesday include a difference over punishing public employers for signing long contracts before the right-to-work law took effect.

Other rifts include how much to boost preschool funding for at-risk 4-year-olds and whether to give K-12 schools a bigger boost in their per-pupil funding or more for employee retirement costs.

House passes bill to expand Education Achievement Authority

Nicole Walton — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 14:42:06 +0000

LANSING, MI (AP)-- The Republican-controlled state House has approved a bill that would expand a program to include more of the state's lowest-performing schools.

The legislation that passed 57-53 on a mostly partly line vote Thursday would expand the Education Achievement Authority program currently operating in 15 Detroit schools.

Schools could be under the program if they're in the bottom 5 percent of lowest-achieving schools for three straight years. The number of schools would be capped at 50.

Bill would drop foreign languages as school requirement

Nicole Walton — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 14:18:08 +0000

LANSING, MI (AP)-- Foreign language studies could be de-emphasized in Michigan under a bill that would drop it as a high school graduation requirement.

The Detroit News reports Monday that supporters of the change say it would offer more flexibility for students who plan to bypass college for a technical career.

Bill would prevent students who take off religious holidays from being penalized

Nicole Walton — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 15:14:41 +0000

LANSING, MI (AP)-- A Democratic Michigan lawmaker wants to ensure that students are not penalized for missing school to observe a religious holiday.

Democratic Representative Kate Segal of Battle Creek recently introduced a bill that would prohibit public school officials from counting days students take off to observe religious holidays against them when handing out perfect attendance or other awards.