Dive Brief:
- Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder on Thursday proposed splitting Detroit's schools into two districts and using one of the districts to pay off $483 million in debt.
- Under the proposal, Emergency Manager Darnell Earley and a five-member elected school board, the Detroit Education Commission, would operate the new City of Detroit Education District. The initial members of the board, however, would be appointed by Snyder and Mayor Mike Duggan.
- Both districts would answer to a financial review board tasked with monitoring "coordination, continuity and fiscal stability," according to MLive.com.
Dive Insight:
Snyder's proposal came on the same day 18 school closures were announced for Detroit, and hundreds of teachers traveled to Lansing to protest his plan. Additionally, Snyder acknowledged that changes to state law would be necessary for some of the reforms — which would also allow parents to enroll students in the school of their choice, implement a letter grade system for schools, and make changes to the Education Achievement Authoirty — to occur. Thus far, the plan faces opposition not just from teacher unions, but from members of Snyder's own party in the state's legislature, some of whom are balking at reports that funding the reforms would cost every district in the state $50 per pupil.
