State Board Supports Legislation To Help Michigan Schools "Race To The Top"

December 8, 2009
 
LANSING - The State Board of Education approved on a unanimous bipartisan vote today a motion to support state legislation that will strengthen Michigan's application for the federal Race To The Top funds.
 
The state Senate and House of Representatives are working over the next two weeks to wrap up several pieces of legislation that align with, and in many cases surpass, the required education reform components of the Race To The Top national competition. If selected, Michigan would be in line for up to $500 million in one-time federal dollars to drive education reform and innovation.
 
Governor Jennifer M. Granholm has worked intensely with the state legislature and education stakeholders to get the legislation passed and sent to her to sign into law before the end of the year. States must submit their Race To The Top applications to the U.S. Department of Education by January 19, 2010.
 
"In a bipartisan way, we have endorsed legislation to put in place the reform conditions that should be in place," said John Austin, State Board of Education vice president. "This is an opportunity for us to articulate what is right for our students, but it's the right thing to do for our students regardless of Race To The Top."

The State Board supported designed to: turnaround underperforming schools and districts (HB 4787, as passed the House; and SB 981, as passed the Senate); require school administrator certification (HB 5623 [H-1]; and SB 981, as passed the Senate); develop high quality alternative routes for administrator and teacher certification at all levels (HBs 5623 [H-1]; and 5596 [H-1]); and to connect student performance as one component in teacher and administrator evaluations (SB 981, as passed the Senate; and HB 5623 [H-1]).

"These reforms will put Michigan in prime position to excel in the Race To The Top competition," said state Superintendent of Public Instruction Mike Flanagan. "The leaders of this state are lining up together to show President Obama and the U.S. Department of Education that we are serious in our efforts to ReImagine education in Michigan."