A recent report from Michigan's Mackinac Center asserts that there is little or no relationship between student achievement and marginal increases to what the report characterizes as the already "high" levels of spending in that state. Yet the report never substantiates its assertion that present spending levels are high, on average, or…

The author's "School District Consolidation Study in 10 Michigan Counties" study was published in August, 2010 by The Education Policy Center at Michigan State University. It was intended to measure the financial impact of consolidation of schools at the county level akin to other states like Virginia, Florida and Maryland. The study was…

In 1994, Michigan voters approved a ballot initiative that transferred the power in Michigan's education system from local communities to the state. Proposal A succeeded in slowing the growth of local property taxes and narrowing the gap between the richest and poorest districts in Michigan. However, due to a decade of sluggish economic growth,…

When it comes to building and maintaining a cutting-edge infrastructure on a limited budget, nobody knows more about the pain points, challenges, and workarounds than the IT professionals tasked with overseeing campus IT. In a recent roundtable discussion with "Campus Technology" contributing writer Charlene O'Hanlon, four IT…

In July 1993, the Michigan legislature did away with the local property tax as a source of operating revenue for the public schools. Analyzes the implications of Michigan's school finance and education reform for fiscal equity, with particular emphasis on constitutional guarantees, equal protection of the laws, and educational quality. (112…

Describes the radical change in the way the states of Michigan and California finance their educational systems. Looks at advantages and disadvantages of those changes. (JOW)

For Mike Simeck, superintendent of the 900-student Dansville, Michigan, school district, adding online courses to the district's high school class offerings means enhancing the curriculum, not necessarily saving dollars. A nonprofit company, Virtual High School is one of the leaders in online course delivery on the K-12 level, offering more than…

The president of the Education Commission of the States urged state policy-makers to proceed cautiously in developing plans to allow parents to pre-pay college tuitions years in advance at discounted prices. Reciprocal agreements between the states and exploration of other options are suggested. (MLW)

This study explores the types and extent of federal and state aid to Catholic elementary education. It examines the situation in Michigan, Missouri, and Ohio and provides case studies of Catholic elementary schools in Detroit, St. Louis, and Toledo. In Ohio, probably the most generous state with respect to nonpublic schools, the elementary school…

The historical background of and barriers to K-12 school finance reform efforts in Michigan from 1968 to 1989 are reviewed in this report. Factors inhibiting school finance reform are cost of equalization, local control, out-of-formula school districts, and property tax stability. Other factors include de facto unavailability of state personal…

This paper analyzes prevalent methods of comparing schools' performance and recommends alternative measures more helpful toward understanding how schools might be improved. The influence of two factors--resource availability and financial need--on the level of school programming is explained in light of Michigan's system of educational finance.…

The literature on funding formulas for higher education is reviewed, and the historical roots of state higher education funding relationships is traced, including three 20th century budget reform movements that were the antecedents of formulas. Attention is directed to conditions that will affect funding of higher education and formula responses…

This paper explores the range of ways in which school districts are using Title I funds for early education through kindergarten and examines how the implementation of No Child Left Behind (NCLB) has impacted those investments. It also makes recommendations for local education agencies (LEAs) interested in creating Title I-funded early education…

Relations between colleges/college governing boards and statewide coordinating boards, and alternatives to coordination, are considered. The history of statewide coordinating boards is briefly sketched, and it is suggested that current conditions and trends require both state and institutional responses. Among the issues are declining enrollments…

Twenty-five issues papers of the Governor's Commission on the Future of Higher Education in Michigan are presented. The document is divided into three sections: section one provides base information on the trends and indicators which evolve beyond the control of higher education; section two discusses those public policy issues which must be…