Governor Announces School Partnership Agreement

Liz Gullett

May 12, 2017

This week, a Partnership Agreement was signed with the state superintendent, State School Reform Office, local intermediate school districts, and local district partners, to put the lowest performing schools on a path to increase academic achievement. Each year, schools in the bottom 5% of all public schools in the state are identified as Priority Schools and monitored for turnaround in subsequent years. This year, thirty-eight schools that have consistently ranked in the bottom 5%, and met the criteria set in state law, were to be considered for closure. After Governor Rick Snyder announced more time and work was needed to assess these schools, State Superintendent Brian Whiston, State School Reform Officer Natasha Baker, and their respective offices worked to devise a plan that would serve students and schools.

Under the Partnership Agreements, school districts team with local and state officials, local social services, education experts, and others in their communities to provide schools with needed resources for improvement. However, the districts will maintain complete control over their schools. Under the agreements, district will have up to thirty-six months to meet agreed-upon goals. If the goals aren’t met, the School Reform Office and the Michigan Department of Education will take actions to improve student achievement.

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