Head of the Classhttp://blog.mlive.com/headoftheclass/Grand Rapids Education and Schools NewsenMovable Type Enterprise 4.29-advance http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/noGrand Rapids Education and Schools Newsheadoftheclasshttp://feedburner.google.comMichigan 'cyber' schools might get state aid based on student performance, not enrollmenthttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/headoftheclass/~3/VqTA-5wWdNU/michigan_cyber_schools_might_g.htmlEducation263509Dave Murray | dmurray@mlive.comWed, 30 May 2012 16:51:04 PDTtag:www.mlive.com,2012:/education/index.ssf//3940.8419298 ]]>The new center would be charged with conducting a study of 1,000 students in online courses to determine and demonstrate the merits of a new payment system.http://www.mlive.com/education/index.ssf/2012/05/michigan_cyber_schools_might_g.htmlAlgebra 2, foreign language would be dropped from Michigan graduation requirements under bill debated in House committeehttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/headoftheclass/~3/mckOkuDfP6A/algebra_2_foreign_language_wou.htmlEducation263509Dave Murray | dmurray@mlive.comWed, 30 May 2012 09:58:15 PDTtag:www.mlive.com,2012:/education/index.ssf//3940.8418347 ]]>State Board of Education member Nancy Danhof: Please don’t go back to the dark ages where we say our students can’t learn, and roll back standards."http://www.mlive.com/education/index.ssf/2012/05/algebra_2_foreign_language_wou.htmlMichigan House bill would require Pledge of Allegiance, American flags in schoolshttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/headoftheclass/~3/NTZagbngfow/michigan_house_bill_would_requ.htmlEducation263509Dave Murray | dmurray@mlive.comWed, 30 May 2012 08:08:27 PDTtag:www.mlive.com,2012:/education/index.ssf//3940.8417800 ]]>Sponsored by State Rep. Kevin Cotter, R- Mt. Pleasant, the bill also requires an American flag be displayed in each classroom.http://www.mlive.com/education/index.ssf/2012/05/michigan_house_bill_would_requ.htmlHouse Democrats say potential school aid increase won't make up for prior budget cutshttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/headoftheclass/~3/ehH4qKMrkIk/house_democrats_say_potential.htmlEducation263509Dave Murray | dmurray@mlive.comTue, 29 May 2012 13:14:16 PDTtag:www.mlive.com,2012:/education/index.ssf//3940.8413197 ]]>State Rep.Ellen Lipton: "If you dig a 12-foot pit and you throw someone in there and give them a 6-foot rope to get out, they’re still in the pit." http://www.mlive.com/education/index.ssf/2012/05/house_democrats_say_potential.htmlDo new teachers spend too much time back in school? Michigan House bill would change certificationhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/headoftheclass/~3/5S5JjOpUuWc/do_new_teachers_spend_too_much.htmlEducation263509Dave Murray | dmurray@mlive.comTue, 29 May 2012 10:08:58 PDTtag:www.mlive.com,2012:/education/index.ssf//3940.8412088 ]]>Teachers must complete 18 credits of graduate coursework within five years to earn the professional certification.http://www.mlive.com/education/index.ssf/2012/05/do_new_teachers_spend_too_much.htmlGov. Snyder backs plan for teacher evaluation pilot, but at $4 million instead of $6 millionhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/headoftheclass/~3/NJhmfLk9khk/gov_snyder_backs_plan_for_teac.html263509235407Dave Murray | dmurray@mlive.comMon, 28 May 2012 20:49:05 PDTtag:www.mlive.com,2012:/education/index.ssf//3940.8410481 ]]>A blue-ribbon panel recommends taking a year to study three evaluation systems in 12 districts, a move members said will cost about $6 million.http://www.mlive.com/education/index.ssf/2012/05/gov_snyder_backs_plan_for_teac.htmlUrban districts say proposed kindergarten funding shift could force them to cut programshttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/headoftheclass/~3/mHs_4phk-mk/urban_districts_say_proposed_k.htmlEducation263509Dave Murray | dmurray@mlive.comMon, 28 May 2012 17:47:07 PDTtag:www.mlive.com,2012:/education/index.ssf//3940.8406072 ]]>The proposed state school aid budget calls for cutting per-student grants in half for students enrolled in half-day kindergarten classes, an effort to prompt districts into creating all-day programs.http://www.mlive.com/education/index.ssf/2012/05/urban_districts_say_proposed_k.htmlSincere move or publicity stunt? Readers debate NEA's call to lead on teacher quality (poll)http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/headoftheclass/~3/EZdj4VTr2eE/sincere_move_or_publicity_stun.htmlEducation263509Dave Murray | dmurray@mlive.comSun, 27 May 2012 10:30:00 PDTtag:www.mlive.com,2012:/education/index.ssf//3940.8404730 ]]>Van Roekel knows improving teacher quality is a bipartisan reform movement across the country. He wants to union to have a seat at the table and even direct the course.http://www.mlive.com/education/index.ssf/2012/05/sincere_move_or_publicity_stun.htmlBad postcard of the week: Lots of drama in this dull downtown Cadillac scenehttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/headoftheclass/~3/9hnPF0Fkgkk/bad_postcard_of_the_week_lots.html263509Dave Murray | dmurray@mlive.comSat, 26 May 2012 06:45:58 PDTtag:www.mlive.com,2012:/news/index.ssf//2926.8393285 ]]>Lots of people will be stopping in scenic Cadillac on their way up north this weekend, and this gloriously bad postcard reminds us of the importance of careful street crossing.http://www.mlive.com/news/index.ssf/2012/05/bad_postcard_of_the_week_lots.htmlObama campaign taps two Michigan educators to criticize Romney class size statementshttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/headoftheclass/~3/QCzTw-wua8U/obama_campaign_taps_two_michig.htmlEducation263509Dave Murray | dmurray@mlive.comFri, 25 May 2012 13:45:31 PDTtag:www.mlive.com,2012:/politics/index.ssf//3203.8395822 ]]>Valerie Smith of the Children's Defense Fund Freedom School: Romney follows a “stack ‘em deep and pay ‘em cheap” educational philosophy.http://www.mlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2012/05/obama_campaign_taps_two_michig.htmlMichigan Attorney General Bill Schuette says state can't collect union dues for independent health workershttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/headoftheclass/~3/4PMFEvud9Ng/michgian_attorney_general_bill.html430500263509Dave Murray | dmurray@mlive.comFri, 25 May 2012 11:01:05 PDTtag:www.mlive.com,2012:/politics/index.ssf//3203.8394192 ]]>Bill Schuette: Private individuals aren’t considered public employees because they participate in taxpayer-backed programs such as Medicaid.http://www.mlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2012/05/michgian_attorney_general_bill.htmlTeachers unions on board with plans to pilot evaluation plan, but lawmakers are mulling the $6 million price taghttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/headoftheclass/~3/rN-nC5i8Y58/teachers_unions_on_board_with.htmlEducation263509Dave Murray | dmurray@mlive.comFri, 25 May 2012 06:54:46 PDTtag:www.mlive.com,2012:/education/index.ssf//3940.8386106 ]]>Unions and school groups support a plan to pilot evaluation systems in 12 districts starting in the fall.http://www.mlive.com/education/index.ssf/2012/05/teachers_unions_on_board_with.htmlNEA President Dennis Van Roekel: Unions need to play a larger role in boosting teacher qualityhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/headoftheclass/~3/IhpllRdmiUk/nea_president_dennis_van_roeke_2.htmlEducation263509Dave Murray | dmurray@mlive.comThu, 24 May 2012 11:09:51 PDTtag:www.mlive.com,2012:/education/index.ssf//3940.8384806 ]]>NEA President Van Roekel: “We can’t always play defense. Sometimes we have to go on offense.”http://www.mlive.com/education/index.ssf/2012/05/nea_president_dennis_van_roeke_2.htmlWhat if the answer to urban education comes from outside the establishment? (commentary)http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/headoftheclass/~3/OuwU_reLCC4/what_if_the_answer_to_urban_ed.htmlEducation263509Dave Murray | dmurray@mlive.comThu, 24 May 2012 06:53:05 PDTtag:www.mlive.com,2012:/education/index.ssf//3940.8382593 ]]>Readers questioned whether the success of the Mastery charter schools in Philadelphia is legitimate.http://www.mlive.com/education/index.ssf/2012/05/what_if_the_answer_to_urban_ed.htmlSchool districts say pension reform plan penalizes them for outsourcing employeeshttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/headoftheclass/~3/-wrgx2LH3ds/school_districts_say_pension_r.htmlEducation263509Dave Murray | dmurray@mlive.comWed, 23 May 2012 09:31:29 PDTtag:www.mlive.com,2012:/education/index.ssf//3940.8376720 ]]> Rep. Chuck Moss: “Districts say they don’t have enough money for their classroom? Well, they don’t because of what they’re paying for their legacies. It’s eating them alive." http://www.mlive.com/education/index.ssf/2012/05/school_districts_say_pension_r.htmlFormer Gov. Jennifer Granholm calls election reform bills 'treasonous'http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/headoftheclass/~3/zyzqPTqqipM/former_gov_jennifer_granholm_c.html26350945918Dave Murray | dmurray@mlive.comWed, 23 May 2012 07:08:54 PDTtag:www.mlive.com,2012:/politics/index.ssf//3203.8375862 ]]>Granholm: “Who do these laws most directly affect? The poor, the elderly, minorities and the young. And how do those groups typically vote? Democratic.” http://www.mlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2012/05/former_gov_jennifer_granholm_c.html'Where were you when they were committing genocide in our urban and rural schools?'http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/headoftheclass/~3/lqgeV-nrctE/where_were_you_when_they_were.html263509Dave Murray | dmurray@mlive.comMon, 21 May 2012 17:20:40 PDTtag:www.mlive.com,2012:/education/index.ssf//3940.8365530 ]]>Some of the highlights and best quotes from sessions that have not already been covered, as well as some facts picked up while exploring the city’s historic sites.http://www.mlive.com/education/index.ssf/2012/05/where_were_you_when_they_were.htmlKey to charter school quality is keeping pressure on authorizers -- panelhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/headoftheclass/~3/THi78TzahcY/key_to_charter_school_quality.htmlEducation274070263509Dave Murray | dmurray@mlive.comSun, 20 May 2012 18:50:48 PDTtag:www.mlive.com,2012:/education/index.ssf//3940.8359983 ]]>The majority of Michigan charters are authorized by state universities, with Central Michigan University leading the way with 74.http://www.mlive.com/education/index.ssf/2012/05/key_to_charter_school_quality.htmlJase Bolger: There's no Republican conspiracy to eliminate public schools, we agree with Obamahttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/headoftheclass/~3/kRJB9y7XeeQ/jase_bolger_theres_no_republic.htmlEducation263509467086Dave Murray | dmurray@mlive.comSun, 20 May 2012 18:12:17 PDTtag:www.mlive.com,2012:/education/index.ssf//3940.8358091 ]]>Obama praised charter schools for having "unique flexibility" that is "matched by strong accountability and high standards."http://www.mlive.com/education/index.ssf/2012/05/jase_bolger_theres_no_republic.htmlCory Booker: 'The great American crisis of our generation is education'http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/headoftheclass/~3/K6UsEb6rJXU/cory_booker_the_great_american.htmlEducation263509Dave Murray | dmurray@mlive.comSun, 20 May 2012 09:00:46 PDTtag:www.mlive.com,2012:/education/index.ssf//3940.8353817 ]]>Newark Mayor Cory Booker said the nation’s urban education systems are in crisis, and he’s open to all ideas, even some that will get him in trouble with his own party.http://www.mlive.com/education/index.ssf/2012/05/cory_booker_the_great_american.htmlnonadult