Standardized tests and teacher evaluation
We have explored previously how an over reliance on standardized tests is contributing to students leaving high school neither college or career ready. To make matters worse we now are putting in place a teacher evaluation system that also over relies on standardized tests. As I wrote in my last post we need to give […]
Michigan’s school choice is resulting in school segregation
For decades, research has been clear that the second most powerful driver of student achievement—behind parental income—is the socioeconomic status of a student’s school. Creating socioeconomically integrated schools should be a top priority of anyone looking to improve the performance of Michigan’s schools, which, by the way, need some improvement (as a quick example: we’re […]
Creative accounting and Michigan’s weak safety net
This year, as the welfare reforms instituted under President Clinton turned 20, NPR’s Marketplace started a podcast called the Uncertain Hour, which takes a deep look at the consequences of those reforms. And in the fourth episode, Michigan takes a starring role. First, some background. In 1996, the United States ended Aid to Families with […]
Holding management accountable for school results
One of the main lessons we learned from our Michigan Future Schools initiative is, contrary to conventional wisdom, the core characteristic of pre K-12 schools nationally that are getting breakthrough gains in student achievement is the commitment and capability of the management of schools (the central office of both charter school networks and traditional public […]
Finally rising household incomes
2015 turns out to be the year that a growing economy finally delivered rising incomes for low and middle income Americans and Michiganders. Median household income nationally rose 5.2 percent. In Michigan 2.4 percent. Michigan’s median household income in 2015 was $51,084 compared to $56,517 for the nation. The poverty rate fell nationally from 14.8 to […]
Why a liberal arts degree holds value in the second machine age
I recently caught up with an old friend whose daughter graduated from high school this year. My friend’s pride in her high-achieving child was obvious, but when I asked about her daughter’s intended college major, her enthusiasm was noticeably muted. She admitted that her daughter’s decision to study musical theatre at a liberal arts college was […]
$5.5 billion reasons Michigan should stop short-changing its cities
According to a 2016 Great Lakes Economic Consulting report entitled Michigan’s Great Disinvestment, 11 Michigan cities, one township, one county, and five school districts are in official states of financial emergency. Though cities around the country have struggled with municipal finance, especially in the wake of the Great Recession, the problem has been particularly acute in […]
Successful cities aren’t like the suburbs
Insightful L.A. Times op ed by Mark Vallianatos and Mott Smith entitled L.A. isn’t a suburb. We need to stop planning it like one. The three core characteristics of vibrant central cities are walkable, high density and mixed use. The core characteristics of suburbs are the exact opposite. They were designed for driving, low density and single use neighborhoods. […]
Developing our first state policy agenda
UPDATE: We released our report: A Path to Good-paying Careers for all Michiganders: A 21st Century state policy agenda Click here to read it: https://www.michiganfuture.org/report-path-good-paying-careers-michiganders-21st-century-state-policy-agenda/ As we began development of Michigan Future’s first ever state policy agenda, we started by asking ourselves “what outcome do we want to achieve?” Our answer is a rising standard of […]
The need to invest in Michigan’s universities
As is often discussed on this blog, there is perhaps nothing more important to the health of Michigan’s economy than increasing the proportion of Michiganders with four-year college degrees. However, based on our state’s investment in higher education, you wouldn’t know it. For individuals, earning a bachelor’s degree is the best way to arm yourself […]