Detroit Evening Report: State Board of Education approves measure to increase charter school transparency
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Michigan’s State Board of Education has approved a resolution that will make charter schools more transparent.
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Board members were concerned with national efforts for schools to move from local governance to privatized schools run by religious organizations and for-profit businesses.
“Charter schools are technically public schools, so they should be expected to follow the same regulations regarding transparency as all public schools are required to follow,” said board member Dr. Mitchell Robinson, who introduced the resolution.
Charter schools are separate from traditional schools, yet are publicly funded and receive charters from authorized bodies outside the system that allows them to operate like public schools.
Some new provisions of the resolution include approval from the Michigan Department of Education before expanding or building new charter schools, full transparency of finances, a transition to nonprofit charter management organizations and strong encouragement that all teachers and administrators hold certificates to teach.
There are 285 charter school districts in Michigan responsible for 363 charter schools.
Other headlines for Thursday, April 11, 2024:
- Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has proclaimed April 11-17 Black Maternal Health Week in Michigan.
- The city of Detroit is holding a Taxpayer Resource Fair from 3 to 6 p.m. this Friday at the Roberto Clemente Recreation Center to help homeowners avoid foreclosure.
- Lina Hourani-Harajli, chief operating officer of the Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services (ACCESS) has been selected as an Arab American Heritage Month Game Changers honoree.
- Thunderstorms with widespread rain is expected across southeast Michigan through Friday.
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