Mich. could be eligible for up to $400 million in new school funding

U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan on Thursday announced the finalization of an application process for schools to seek more cash from the feds, but those monies are tied to certain expectations — like student performance being tied to teacher and administration reviews, which could put Michigan on the sideline.

According to the Department of Eduction, Michigan could qualify for as much as $400 million in federal grant money. But Duncan in a telephone conference with reporters on Thursday made it clear that such funding would be tied to innovation in education as well as tying educational achievements by children with the performance reviews of teachers and administrators.

“It’s time to make education a national mission,” Duncan said. “We have to impact what’s going on in the classroom.”

Duncan said states are at “a nexus of crisis and opportunity,” which should be harnessed to create change in the way education is delivered.

The Race to the Top funding initiative, Duncan said, is designed to reward those states and districts which have been consistently innovating in education with high performance markers from students who are prepared for college or employment following graduation.

Among the pillars of the initiative are four areas for innovation. Those areas are tying teacher performance ratings to student outcomes, expansion of high quality, high performance charter schools, turning around failing schools and alternative teacher certification.

“Our goal is to fundamentally challenge the status quo,” Duncan said. “This is absolutely a competition. There will be winners and there will be losers.”

And Michigan could likely be a loser when it comes to competing for this federal cash. Michigan Board of Education Superintendent Mike Flanagan, told The Associated Press on Thursday that Michigan would have to change laws in order to even have a chance to qualify for the federal money.

Among those laws? One which prevents schools from tying teacher performance reviews with student performance, and another which prevents districts from allowing uncertified teachers from entering the classroom to teach. Certification through a university and the state licensing board is mandated.

And while the Michigan Education Association is “fundamentally” opposed to linking teacher performance to student performance, Doug Pratt, direct of communication for the state’s largest teachers union said they are participating in the conversations with lawmakers in Lansing to make sure Duncan’s statement that teacher performance and student performance was but one criteria in evaluating the full performance of a student is carried out in Michigan.

“There are so many other things that go into student success,” Pratt said. “The problem is that while the Secretary says that, it’s not always the way it’s interpreted.”

Pratt rattled of a series of influences he says are involved in student performance including poverty, family involvement, class size and per pupil funding from the state.

“How that student performed one day on one test is not a sole indicator of student success,” Pratt said.

Another fundamental obstacle Michigan will have to overcome if it can successfully compete for the federal cash will be addressing the recent K-12 educational foundation allowance grants. Duncan made it clear in talking with reporters Thursday that states are all facing difficult budget issues, the question — and the evaluation — will come down to how state’s prioritize funding in tight budget times.

“Did those cuts help students in the classroom, or did they benefit adults?” Duncan said would be a major evaluation tool in this process.

Many would argue that Michigan’s K-12 foundation allowance grant cuts were done for political expediency, not to help students in the classroom. The question then becomes, if the Democratic lead House passed legislation which restores $184 million in funding to the K-12 budget is approved by the GOP-dominated Senate and signed into law, will that be enough to alleviate concerns from the feds about how Michigan funds its schools. The answer is unclear.