Governor Whitmer has signed legislation that will bring about significant changes in how public schools in Michigan are ranked by the state. The current Revised School Code mandates the Michigan Department of Education to assign letter grades, ranging from A to F.
Proponents argue that this system aids in determining funding allocations, but critics assert that the process of ranking schools is far more intricate than a simple letter grade, and that the school index accountability system would be a better model to follow.
The school index accountability system evaluates schools on a scale of 0 to 100, considering factors such as student growth, proficiency, graduation rates, English learner progress, attendance rates, advanced coursework completion, postsecondary enrollment, and staffing ratios.
State Superintendent Dr. Michael Rice says, “Coupled with the parent dashboard, the school index accountability system, which predates the A-F system in the state, is more informative and complete, and has been approved by the U.S. Department of Education.”
Reporting for WGRT – Choze Powell
