Feds lay out hurdles for Michigan to relax No Child Left Behind rules

MI

May 4, 2012

By Lori Higgins

(From Detroit Free Press, May 4th, 2012)

Michigan has to jump through a few more hoops if it wants to get out from under some of the strict rules of the federal No Child Left Behind law.

That law, now widely panned by many as being too unrealistic because it requires all students to be proficient in reading and math by 2014, penalizes schools that don’t meet the mark.

And greater numbers of schools are falling short of the goals, many because they aren’t showing enough improvement on state exams. That’s why the U.S. Department of Education has told states they can apply for waivers from the rules.

Michigan applied in February, with a plan that would allow the state to better intervene in the schools that need the most help and make schools more accountable for student performance. The state’s plan also would allow the state to set lower proficiency goals for schools.

But like most states that applied for the waiver, Michigan got a letter back from the feds outlining a number of changes that are needed in order for Michigan to get approval.

The feds said they were mostly pleased with the state’s application, telling State Superintendent Mike Flanagan in a letter last month that, “You and your team deserve great credit for your efforts thus far.”

The feds detailed four pages of changes and clarifications that are needed, but three were highlighted as among the most significant. Among them, the feds are concerned that too little weight is given to graduation rates. Michigan’s plan would have it count 10% toward a school’s accountability rating.

They’re also concerned that there is no official plan to pilot new systems for evaluating teachers and principals. That concern was raised before the Michigan Council on Educator Effectiveness, which was formed last year to come up with the new evaluation system, recommended a pilot program. That recommendation came last week.