Chalkbeat

Education news. In context.

Chalkbeat

Rep. Tim Kelly

School letter grades

Detroit
December 13, 2018

Lame duck Michigan lawmakers just voted on A-F grades for schools. Here’s what you need to know.

A bill that would mandate an A-F letter grading system would mean a new way of holding schools accountable, but it's garnered criticism

Power Shift

Detroit
December 5, 2018

GOP power grab — or path to better schools? Lame-duck votes could shift some Michigan education powers

A proposed education accountability commission would take on some powers currently held by state elected officials.

School letter grades

Detroit
December 3, 2018

Lame-duck lawmakers could derail improvement-focused A-F rating system planned for Detroit

A bill that would require an A-F school letter grade accountability system in Michigan would put a halt to plans currently being developed in Detroit that were also required by state law.

high stakes

Detroit
June 28, 2018

New education budget threatens dozens of low-performing Detroit schools with closure — again

Dozens of struggling Detroit schools could face closure once again after Gov. Rick Snyder signed an education budget on Thursday that seeks to stiffen consequences for low-scoring schools.

grappling with grades

Detroit
March 1, 2018

A-F school letter grades bill passes House committee with only GOP support, goes to full House

A revised version of a controversial bill that would give every school in the state an A-F report…

grappling with grades

Detroit
February 15, 2018

Getting kids to class may be harder than some lawmakers think. A new study casts doubt on how big a role educators can play.

Michigan and other states are focusing more on how often students are absent as a factor in determining a school’s performance. But a…

Measuring schools

Detroit
February 13, 2018

State education officials prepare 0 to 100 index to measure schools, slam push for A-F grades

The new index will give each school a single number based on six factors, including test scores and graduation rates, the availability of classes like art and music, and proficiency rates for English learners

More grades?

Detroit
February 8, 2018

Lawmaker proposes giving every school in the state A-F grades to stop ‘masking poor performance’

All Michigan schools would receive an annual report card with letter grades in six different categories under new legislation that got a hearing…

Battle to buy a school

Detroit
January 26, 2018

A new law, signed Friday by Gov. Snyder, prompts Detroit district to back out of property dispute with charter school

A Detroit charter school now has a much clearer path to buy and renovate a vacant former school building on Detroit’s east side. After Gov.

Battle to buy a school

Detroit
January 11, 2018

Michigan House passes bill that will help local charter in its fight against the Detroit district

GOP State House representatives today fast tracked a bill that will help local charter Detroit Prep in its fight against the Detroit Public…

School fight

Detroit
November 30, 2017

In heated exchange with GOP lawmakers, Detroit schools chief Vitti defends stance on charters, property and grading schools

Schools chief Nikolai Vitti faced hostile questions from GOP lawmakers Thursday who accused him of “blatantly” violating several laws and grilled him on his dealings with charter schools.