Michigan Schools

    According to the Michigan Department of Education, in 2006 163 elementary, middle, and high schools have come off the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) sanctions list. These schools have made their “Adequate Yearly Progress” (AYP) goals for two consecutive years. According to the state superintendent, 55 of these schools were in the most severe level of sanctions. According to the NCLB statute, schools not meeting their AYP goals two years in a row undergo sanctions ranging from having to provide school choice and transportation to another school, to tutoring services for the students, to eventual school restructuring. Schools in poverty-stricken areas (labeled Title I schools) are eligible for federal funding to help them raise test scores, provide free tutoring, and provide free or reduced-cost lunches.

Also, according to the 2006 AYP report, over one quarter—1,183—schools received an “A” on their report card. This is up from 859 in 2005. A total of 3,204 schools made their AYP goals, or just over 85%. Michigan added 78 schools to its NCLB reporting between the 2005 and 2006 testing.

Michigan spent over $16 billion for K-12 education in the 2005-06 school year, or over $9,000 per student. Class size in the public schools average just over 18 students per teacher. Because of low class size and high standardized test scores, Morgan Quinto, who releases an annual reference book rating states’ school systems on 21 factors, raised Michigan’s rating from 31 in 2004-05 to 27 in 2005-06.

To check the progress of your child’s school, check out the latest AYP reports at http://www.michigan.gov/mde.