DETROIT – Two House lawmakers and leading advocates of major school reform legislation held a press conference today urging the Senate to act on their plan to turn around failing schools before any more Michigan school children suffer the consequences of poor performing schools. The plan, which passed the House late last week, creates new standards and restructuring options for schools to ensure Michigan students are prepared for the 21st century global economy.
"We cannot afford to wait any longer to address schools that fail our children," said State Representative Tim Melton (D-Pontiac), a sponsor of the plan. "Education plays a vital role in enabling our children to reach their full potential and compete for 21st century jobs. It is crucial that we act before more Michigan children are put at risk of falling behind because the schools they attend are unable to provide a quality education."
The legislation allows for the appointment of a Reform Officer to design and implement a turnaround plan for failing schools. The Reform Officer will appoint a team to review a school placed under his or her control and make recommendations, and he or she will oversee the implementation of a restructuring strategy. The Reform Officer will have the power to implement new building policies, assume direct operation of the school or contract with a high-performing charter school.
"This legislation gets to the root of the problem in some of our state's most critically challenged schools," said State Representative Bert Johnson (D-Detroit), the other sponsor of the plan. "We're at a vital point in the direction of our state's future and because top-notch education is the foundation to economic recovery, this plan for reform is a giant leap down the path to prosperity for Michigan."