Governor, DPS Emergency Manager unveil education reform plan for failing schools

By Karen Hudson Samuels – Tell Us Detroit

DETROIT (Tell Us Det) A new authority for improving academic achievement in the lowest 5% of public schools statewide and in Detroit was announced Monday at Renaissance High School by Governor Rick Snyder and DPS Emergency Manager Roy Roberts.

The Education Achievement System, outlined by Governor Snyder, intends to dramatically increase student performance by introducing major changes in school structure and operation in schools not realizing satisfactory results.

It will shift school management power from central administration offices to school principals, put more resources directly into the classroom, bring on a university partner for teacher education, offer college financing for all DPS students, and extend the school day to eight hours.

Principals will have the authority to hire teachers and oversee their placemen based on student needs. The DPS central office will be restructured and streamlined to focus on supporting its customers, the schools.

Currently only 55% of resources are going to schools, Roberts says under the Education Achievement System 95% of taxpayer funds will be spent directly in the classroom.

The budgetary costs of bureaucracy are changing; Roberts said half of the consulting staff now in central offices will be gone this summer.

DPS spends half of its entire budget on bureaucracy and management with $900 per student going simply pay off the deficit which stands at over $300 million dollars.

To attract and retain student and families, EAS goals include 100% college and career ready graduates. Roberts said the Kalamazoo Promise model which funds post high school education is being adopted by EAS.

The Scholarship Promise for DPS guarantees all Detroit students financing for 2- year and ultimately 4-year college education. The Governor said they are working with foundations, businesses and philanthropic organizations to support the Scholarship Promise.

School Impact
It is estimated that 39 or 40 Detroit Public Schools fall into the low performing 5% percent. Snyder and Roberts said their announcement was held at Detroit Renaissance High School to underscore the excellence can be found in DPS schools.
The new system is being implemented in pilot phrases, with DPS taking the lead. It was developed with input from high performing school systems across the county and with consultation from K-12 educators, business leaders along with members of the Detroit Community.

DPS Emergency Manager Roy Roberts will maintain his current role while at the same time serving as the Chair of the Education Achievement System Executive Committee.

There will be an 11-member AS Board with two members appointed by DPS and two members appointed by EMU. The remaining seven members are appointed by the Governor.

Eastern Michigan University, as an EAS partner will focus on improving teacher education. EMU President Dr. Susan Martin was present at Monday’s news conference; she said the school is a leader in turning out educational personnel nationwide and is privileged to support teacher development for EAS.

Detroit Federation of Teachers President Keith Johnson said the union was advised of the Education Achievement System after it was designed and while it looked on paper said “The devil is in the details”.

The announcement of the sweeping EAS initiative included a satellite comment from Secretary of Education Arne Duncan who said saving Detroit’s children was a matter of urgency as demonstrated by May achievement results. He said there is no viable future for the state if low performing schools are allowed to stand.

The new system will be in development throughout the 2011-12 school year and will recive its first schools from DPS in September of 2012.


For more information, visit www.detroitK12.org.