Michigan K-12 Science Scores Improve, but Gap Between White/Black Students Labeled "Woeful"

Michigan students are making gains in science on a national exam, scoring above the national average, state educators said.

But an education advocacy group says the state has more work to do with black and low-income students who “remain woefully behind their white and more affluent peers.”

National Assessment of Educational Progress scores released Thursday show state eighth-graders showed Michigan students are ranked 16th in the country, up from being ranked 23rd in 2009.

Only three states – South Caroline, Colorado and Mississippi – had larger gains.

“Michigan's significantly improved scores are likely a result of our dedicated science teachers helping students learn more difficult information,” state Superintendent Mike Flanagan said in a release.

http://www.mlive.com/education/index.ssf/2012/05/michigan_students_scoring_high.html

Michigan Lawmakers Discussing Drug Testing for Welfare Recipients

State lawmakers are taking testimony on legislation to require some state welfare recipients to undergo drug testing.

Michigan tried before to require drug testing of welfare recipients.    That law mandated random drug testing.    But the courts stopped that program a decade ago.

Some legislators want to resurrect the idea, though this new program would focus on cash assistance recipients who are suspected of using illegal drugs.

“Hard earned tax dollars should be used efficiently,” says Utica State Representative Jeff Farrington.  He’s the bill’s sponsor.   “There are limited resources as we all know. Those resources should go to those in highest need. If someone is using cash assistance for their illegal drug habit that’s not a good use of our resources.”

Substance abuse treatment and welfare advocates oppose the drug testing requirement.    They say the proposal won’t save the state any money.

http://www.michiganradio.org/post/michigan-lawmakers-discussing-drug-testing-welfare-recipients

Comstock Public Schools Face Serious Fiscal Challenges

"Like trying to run with weights tied to your feet".

That's how Comstock Public Schools superintendent Todd Mora described the district's financial problems.  In a district faced with difficult problems like decreasing enrollment, student poverty and economic decline in the broader Comstock community, the sharp decrease in funds from the state are serious handicaps.

Julie Mack at MLive details the challenges facing Comstock's students, parents  and teachers in a community where parents who can are transferring their students to districts in less dire straits.  This only compounds the problem, as test scores (and, therefore, state funding) declines apace.

Read the whole article here.

Summer Job Outlook Improves for Teens

Claire Wahl is one-for-one in her summer job search.

The 14-year-old Birmingham Seaholm High School student pounced on the opportunity to be one of 20 seasonal workers at Dairy Deluxe in Birmingham — the only place she looked in her quest to save money for college and a car.

Other teens might find similar success in their search for summer employment, thanks to an improving economy that is expected to mean more job opportunities in Michigan and across the country.

While the outlook is rosier, there are still challenges, especially in Michigan where the unemployment rate for teens ages 16 to 19 was nearly 29 percent last year. In searching for jobs, teens might need to think outside the box, experts say.

"I actually feel like it is improving a bit," said Nancy Zambardi, a career specialist with the Troy School District's two high schools. "I have more job postings now than I did this time last year and for a higher hourly rate."

http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120508/BIZ/205080368#ixzz1uFqe1dYW

Pokagon Band's New Community Center Is First in Southwest Michigan to Receive Environmentally Friendly Gold Certification

Porous paving bricks in the parking lot and solar panels in the back make it easy to understand why the Pokagon Band of the Potawatomi's new community center has received environmental honors from a national organization.

The building along Dailey Road also features native plants growing on a roof section to insulate and reduce water runoff. It has a geothermal heating and cooling system, a berm insulating one side of the building and a passive solar system with glass walls facing south. It has a 12-inch concrete floor.

"We wanted the community center to be a gathering space for our members and also reflect our values and the idea of not doing too much damage to the Earth," said tribal spokeswoman Paige Risser. "The upfront costs may be higher but people will save in the long-term."


...The center is next to the band's Pokegnek Edawat Village residential development, about a mile from tribal headquarters. The site is ideal because it's within walking distance of the neighborhood, she said.


http://www.heraldpalladium.com/articles/2012/04/30/local_news/9748028.txt

Hispanic Center of Western Michigan seeks volunteers to help bridge gap between techie kids and parents who can't compute

Like many moms, Gildara Gaona of Grand Rapids wants to help her children with homework. She wants to monitor Facebook activity in their teen years, and someday guide them through the college application process. But first, she is working to conquer email.

Gaona is a recent graduate of the digital connectors class at the Hispanic Center of Western Michigan, a 15-week course teaching basic computer skills like Microsoft Word, Internet browsing, and email use.

“The digital divide in Kent County is huge,” said Jaenelle Ott, the adult education coordinator and lead teacher at the Hispanic Center of Western Michigan. “It creates inequality, and the gap continues to widen.”

http://www.mlive.com/living/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2012/05/the_hispanic_center_of_western.html

How your county ranks for unwed births, pregnant teens and infant health

Fewer Michigan teenagers are having babies, and the state is seeing fewer premature births, according to a new report looking at health and birth trends.

But the Kids Count in Michigan Right Start report indicates that the number of babies born to unwed mothers has risen dramatically over the last decade, accounting for 41 percent of babies born between 2008 and 2010.

The report, released today by the Michigan League for Human Services' Kids Count in Michigan project, looks at eight maternal and infant health measures and ranks 81 of the state’s 83 counties.

http://www.mlive.com/news/index.ssf/2012/04/report_fewer_michigan_teenager.html

Map the Meal Gap

What percentage of people or children in your county have food insecurity?

The following is a link to an interactive map which shows.  Click on Michigan and then click on your county to find out:

http://feedingamerica.org/hunger-in-america/hunger-studies/map-the-meal-gap.aspx

Michigan Book Discusses Limits of Education Reform

The mixed results of decades of education reform in Michigan prove there’s only so much policymakers can do to improve student performance, according to a new book by two school and policy researchers.


Using Michigan as a laboratory, authors Michael Addonizio and Philip Kearney dissect the impacts of reforms to school funding, accountability and choice and conclude “the crucial interaction between students and teachers is often unaffected by state or federal attempts at ‘remote control.’”


... Over its 260 pages that include notes and charts, “Education Reform and the Limits of Policy: Lessons from Michigan” also argues that lawmakers should remember supports to housing, health, income and other social services affect learning as students struggling with those issues at home also struggle in class.


http://www.battlecreekenquirer.com/article/20120427/NEWS01/304270027/Author-Education-reforms-overly-optimistic-

Max M. & Marjorie S. Fisher Foundation Study: Investing in Quality Pre-Kindergaten Preparation Saves Michigan $100,000 per Child

For every Detroit child who enters kindergarten ready to learn, Michigan taxpayers save $100,000, according to a study that calculates the economic value of preparing children for long-term educational success starting at birth.

Detroit's One-Child School Readiness Dividend study, to be released at a news conference today, was commissioned by the Max M. & Marjorie S. Fisher Foundation in partnership with more than 20 organizations.

The conclusions support prior research which showed evidence that children -- particularly low-income children -- who attend early education programs that prepare them are less likely to depend on taxpayer-funded services.

http://www.freep.com/article/20120425/NEWS01/204250395/Kindergarten-preparation-for-each-Detroit-tot-means-36-100-000-savings-for-Michigan-study-finds