Michigan submits Race to the Top application

 

Plan earns support from nearly 90 percent of state’s schools

The Michigan Department of Education has submitted the state’s second round application for the federal Race to the Top grant, meeting the June 1 deadline. The application outlines the state’s plan to use nearly $400 million in federal funds to help implement critical school reforms to improve instruction and enhance transparency and accountability.

“We are committed to ensuring that all Michigan children receive the first class, 21st Century education they need to compete and succeed in a global economy,” said Governor Jennifer M. Granholm.  “The plan outlined in this application establishes a clear path to help us meet that goal.”

The application received extensive and broad support from local school boards, superintendents, principals, and teacher unions. The state’s application is supported by nearly 87 percent of local school districts, with 737 traditional districts and Public School Academies signing Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) to participate and be eligible for funding, if Michigan is chosen for a Race to the Top award.

Of those participating districts that have teacher unions, over 83 percent of the MOUs are co-signed by their local union presidents. The local school board president and superintendent also co-signed the MOUs. Of all the school buildings in Michigan, 90 percent are represented in the participating districts, as are 93 percent of all low-income students in Michigan.

“We have broad consensus agreement from all of the interest groups, who really helped develop this application,” said state Superintendent of Public Instruction Mike Flanagan. “With more time, we have been able to prepare an application that will make Michigan more competitive for the federal funds.”

The application’s theme is: Accelerate Michigan and focuses on improving student achievement, closing the achievement gap, and providing enhanced professional development for teachers.

The foundation of the state’s Race to the Top application is the state’s new education reform laws enacted in January. Those new laws provide a statewide structure to:

• turn around low-performing schools;
• improve instruction by providing supports to teachers and administrators whose students are not showing academic improvement over time;
• expand quality charter schools;
• align curriculum and assessments with new common core standards; and
• provide alternate routes to teacher and administrator certification.

Michigan’s federal Race to the Top application received over 80 letters of support from a wide range of public and private organizations, including: Michigan Association of School Boards; Michigan Association of School Administrators; Michigan Education Association; American Federation of Teachers-Michigan; Michigan Association of Public School Academies; school principals; Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce; Ford Motor Company; Michigan Parent Teacher Student Association; post-secondary universities and community colleges; Early Childhood Investment Corporation; and national and regional philanthropic organizations and foundations.

To protect the integrity and unique aspects of Michigan’s federal Race to the Top application, the Michigan Department of Education will not make it available to the public until after the June 1 deadline when all other states have submitted their applications.