Exploring the Public Education System in Michigan
By Maya White
State Overview (Digest of Education Statistics)
There are 1,434,137 students (90% of all students) who attend public school in Michigan!
- The remaining ~160,000 students attend traditional private schools or charter schools
- The public education budget is around 14.8 billion dollars
- The most recent per pupil expenditures was $12,052 (NAEP)
- This is slightly less than the average national per pupil expenditures of around $13,000
- This shows that Michigan is spending around the same amount of money on public education compared to other US States
- Per pupil expenditures for Michigan public school districts range from a low of around $3,000 to a high of around $12,900 (Office of Elementary and Secondary Education)
This graph compares the enrollment of students in Michigan public schools throughout the past decade. There seems to be a negative, linear trend in student enrollment over recent years.
Data Analysis:
It is important to analyze why there has been a decrease in public school attendance in Michigan over the past decade. A large explanation for this trend has been the rise of traditional private schools and charter schools across the state. Throughout the past few years, there have been more charter schools established in Michigan school districts than ever before. Similarly, legislators are pushing for new private school voucher programs. In most recent news, the GOP in Michigan has pushed for a $500 million private school voucher program (Bridge Michigan). Under the legislation, eligible public school students could receive $500 scholarships, or $1,100 for those in special education programs. That money could be used in a variety of ways, for example, for tutoring, extracurricular activities, books, computer hardware, summer programs, speech therapy, or transportation. This legislation would move even more public school students into private schools than ever before.
Similarly, the recent downward trend in public school attendance is largely due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Statewide enrollment was down 3.7% this past year, and 5% in city districts, raising questions about where students went and concerns that declining student counts could hurt district finances (Chalkbeat). The shift from an in-person experience to online learning has worsened demographic inequalities in Michigan, and has forced families to remove their children from schooling. Mentioned in my data, more wealthier (White) families have the ability to disenroll their children from public schools and use their finances to throw their children into private education. Similarly, wealthier communities have greater access to technology, which allows them to be able to complete schooling from home. Access to computers was very necessary during the pandemic, yet not all families could afford to own them. On the other hand, low-income (Black and Hispanic) families find themselves at a constant disadvantage because they are unable to afford paying tuition for a private school. They are even unable to use personal technology from home, which causes students to drop out of school as well. Education is seen as a privilege and a way in which students may exit the vicious cycle of poverty. Furthermore, the pandemic has forced many low-income Black and Hispanic students out of the public education system. The reality is that inequities in Michigan’s public education system are holding low-income students back from reaching their academic potential.
This chart shows some characteristics of Michigan public schools from the 2020-2021 school year. It includes the most recent per pupil expenditures of $12,052.
Student Demographics (NCES & NAEP)
Enrollment by Race/Ethnicity:
This graph shows that more than half of students enrolled in Michigan public schools are White.
Enrollment of English Learners:
- 6.6% of all public school students in Michigan identify as English language learners
This graph shows that during the 2020-2021 school year in Michigan public schools, 10.59% of students in 4th Grade identified as English learners. Similarly, 6.05% of students in 8th Grade identified as English learners as well.
Enrollment of Socioeconomic Disadvantaged Students:
- 21.9% of all public school students in Michigan live at or under the poverty line
This graph shows the digital divide among Michigan public schools. It shows that the poorest schools districts have extremely low technology access compared to wealthier districts.
Graduation Rates (NCES)
- Overall, graduation rates of public school students in Michigan have dropped from 82.1% in 2020 to 80.5% in 2021
- By race and gender, Asian women had the highest graduation rate in 2020 at 95%
- 92% of Asian males
- 88% of White females
- 82% of White males
- 80% of Hispanic females
- 77% of Black females
- 71% of Hispanic males
- 64% of Black males
Data Analysis:
There are clear disparities in the graduation rates of public school students in Michigan. Data shows that certain demographics of students have a higher graduation rate compared to others. Specifically, Asian and White students graduated at much higher rates than Hispanic and Black students in Michigan public schools. This trend is found in other US States, as White students typically have the highest graduation rates overall. Why is this such a prominent trend across the nation? These inequalities are largely due to the disparities of funding, or per pupil expenditures, among different school districts. In Michigan for example, the Airport Community School district in Carleton, Michigan has a per pupil expenditure of around $3,000. This is much less than the Allen Park Public School district in Allen Park, Michigan that has a per pupil expenditure of around $12,900 (Office of Elementary and Secondary Education). Data shows that Carleton, Michigan supports a more diverse population of students (White and Hispanic students) while Allen Park, Michigan supports a predominantly White student population (Data USA). The children who were born at the root of this insufficient and unfair approach to educational investment are Michigan’s most vulnerable children, from English Learners to low-income children to students with disabilities to students living in rural, isolated communities or ones with concentrated poverty (The Education Trust – Midwest).
Unfortunately, Michigan has not made much progress to fix these inequalities. Michigan’s education system has actually served as an engine of inequality. Students who live in communities without the means to provide necessary support, do not grow up with the conditions they need to thrive academically. It is important to discuss the structural issues in Michigan’s funding system that perpetuate these inequalities. National research has shown that Michigan’s funding formula is one of the most regressive school funding formulas in the country. Specifically, on average, Michigan’s highest poverty districts received five percent less state and local funding than Michigan’s lowest poverty districts despite serving a student population with significantly greater needs (The Education Trust – Midwest). Michigan’s funding system is not only unfair and deeply inequitable; it’s also inadequate.
Testing and Accountability Measures (Michigan.gov)
Michigan public schools have an innovative and comprehensive system of assessments to measure achievement and learning of the state content standards
This chart shows all of the assessments used in Michigan public schools, along with their tested subjects and different purposes.
- Use this link to read more about the specific academic content standards for Michigan public schools
- These standards outline what teachers believe students should know in certain grades and should be able to perform in certain subjects to be college or career ready upon graduation
- Tests have high content validity with respect to the subject specific curriculum for a particular grade level in Michigan
The main accountability measure that is unique to Michigan is the Michigan Student Test of Educational Progress (MEAP/M-STEP)
- Michigan public schools also participate in the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NEAP) in 4th, 8th, and 12th Grade. Summative assessments are also required under the Michigan State School Aid Act and the Federal Every Student Succeeds Act
Resource to better understand the consequences for failing to meet school standards
Michigan also adopted Common Core Standards in June 2010 (Michigan. gov) and Next Generation Science Standards in late 2015 (MEA)
Graduation REquirements
Resource for understanding Michigan’s merit curriculum and high school graduation requirements
Proficiency in State Content Standards is needed for each subject
- English Language Arts (ELA) – 4 credits
- Mathematics – 4 credits
- Online Learning Experience
- Physical Education and Health – 1 credit
- Science – 3 credits
- Social Studies – 3 credits
- Visual, Performing, and Applied Arts – 1 credit
- World Language – 2 credits
Charter Schools and Vouchers (NCES)
Charter schools were approved by law in 1994
- There are around 292 charter schools
- These charter schools educate around 150,000 students
- There are active public charter school laws, but no private school choice programs or vouchers in place (National Alliance for Public Charter Schools)
- Michigan law requires that charter schools must abide by all laws required of traditional public schools, except being part of the collective bargaining agreement of the district in which they reside
- Like traditional districts, Michigan law allows charter schools to seek waivers from the state department of education
Recently, the GOP in Michigan has pushed for a $500 million private school voucher program (Bridge Michigan)
- Under the legislation, eligible public school students could receive $500 scholarships, or $1,100 for those in special education programs
- That money could be used in a variety of ways, for example, for tutoring, extracurricular activities, books, computer hardware, summer programs, speech therapy, or transportation
Teachers
As of April 2022, the average public school teacher salary in Michigan is $61,095 (Salary.com)
- The range typically falls between $53,332 and $70, 547 and are dependent on city, education, certifications, additional skills, and the number of years in the profession
The most significant teachers union is AFT Michigan
- AFT Michigan is made up of 35,000 educators and healthcare providers working in K-12 and intermediate school districts, community colleges, universities, and hospitals across the state
- Their goal is to be “committed to working together with our communities to reclaim the promise of public education as our nation’s gateway to democracy and social justice”
Resource on collective bargaining in Michigan school districts
- Unions and school boards are prohibited from collectively bargaining over merit pay in Michigan
In The News!
In recent news for the education system Michigan, State Superintendent, Michael Rice, is calling for lawmakers to make historic investments in the K-12 school system. Changes include more funding for needy student groups like low-income students, English language learners, and students in rural, isolated areas.
References
Digest of Education Statistics
Elementary/Secondary Information System
National Alliance for Public Charter Schools