A Teacher Quality Primer

Shedding light on teacher contracts and school spending

Union contracts for all local school districts in Michigan, as well as district-by-district information on revenue and expenditures, are available online at the Michigan School Databases, hosted by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy. This collection of databases is a valuable source of information about salaries, class size, health benefits and other school procedures as detailed in collective bargaining agreements in each district. The page also includes the center's "District Checkbook Register Report," a link to Michigan school districts which make their check registries available online for public inspection.

	MED July 27, 2010 High school student scores improved slightly on the Michigan Merit Examination in 2010, though only half the test-takers achieved “proficient” scores in math and 65 percent in reading, according to results issued by the Michigan Department of Education. MED July 20, 2010 The Michigan Supreme Court ruled last week that the state violated its own law by requiring public school districts to collect data for the Center for Educational Performance and Information without paying them for the work, according to an Associated Press report posted at mlive.com Education news and analysis. Opinion: Michigan’s ‘alternative’ certification won’t improve teacher talent pool Our guest author says that Michigan’s new route to teacher certification relies too heavily on old practices. Small district, big plans N.I.C.E. Community Schools was named a ‘Project ReImagine’ school district in 2009. Here’s an update on their 11-point reform plan. The proper role of a public school board Our guest commentator says that the best school boards are those that hold themselves accountable for the district’s performance. Adding private schools to the school choice debate When Michigan debates school choice, the conversation is usually limited to public schools. Not so in other states.		Teacher certification tests don’t get the job done Guest author Ryan McCarl says that the Michigan Test for Teacher Certification does little to pinpoint the best teacher candidates. Too Expensive For Michigan Our schools pay far more than average for health insurance. More or Less Length of school year doesn’t predict achievement. Pool Party Health pool a step forward. ‘Dangerous’ to whom? Behind rhetoric, privatization saves money. The 'me' in MEA Pension proposal is expensive and does not help students. Dollars and sense We need to teach students about free enterprise. It merits discussion Discussing merit pay for teachers Unraveling MESSA Mission Creep: Charter School Oversight MEA Report: MEA Members Paying More for Less The Opportunities of Tax Credits Statewide School Contracting Could Save As Much As $500 Million NCLB Falls Short of Helping Parents Time to Reform Teacher Compensation in Michigan Let the Union Buyer Beware Selective Moral Outrage: MEA Tries to Downgrade MESSA Plan for Its Own Employees Proposal 5 Defeat Means Voters Want Changes A Barbed Portrayal of Urban Public Schools