Blog

Campaign translations help with interpreting education claims

It’s campaign season! Here are some translations to help you interpret phrases you may see on postcards or hear from candidates. Campaign Claim #1: “Rep. X is anti-education or voted against education funding because he voted against HB 2506.” Translation: Rep. X is actually pro-education and voted against HB 2506 because of the harmful policy provisions and tried to ensure passage of a clean or compromise education finance bill. Campaign Claim #2: “Rep. X is pro-education because she voted for HB 2506 and put more money into classrooms.” Translation: Rep. X voted for additional funding for schools only...
Read more Leave a Comment

Garden City Telegram notes HB 2506 was anti-school measure

“While much attention understandably has been devoted to the loss of due process, other aspects of the misguided [HB 2506] demand attention, such as tax breaks for corporations’ private school donations. Parents have every right to send their children to private schools, but not at the expense of the public school system. Siphoning any resources from K-12 hurts even more considering the longstanding interest of Gov. Sam Brownback and his GOP allies in slashing state financing for public schools. But such strategies are priorities for the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) and its Koch-supported cronies, Americans for Prosperity...
Read more Leave a Comment

Detroit Free Press year-long study finds charter problems

The major newspaper for Detroit conducted a year-long study of charters in the state and found: “wasteful spending, conflicts of interest, poor performing schools and a failure to close the worst of the worst. Among the findings: Charter schools spend $1billion per year in state taxpayer money, often with little transparency. Some charter schools are innovative and have excellent academic outcomes — but those that don’t are allowed to stay open year after year. A majority of the worst-ranked charter schools in Michigan have been open 10 years or more. Charter schools as a whole fare no better...
Read more Leave a Comment