Senate Approves Detroit Public School Reform Package

Liz Gullett

Mar 25, 2016

This week, the Senate passed a bipartisan package of six bills that would make major reforms to the Detroit Public Schools (DPS). Under the Senate passed package, DPS would exist only to levy taxes and retire current debt. The plan would create a new Detroit Community District (DCD) to assume operations of the current school system as of July 1, 2016. It would be governed by a nine member board; seven members elected by city electoral districts and two members elected at large. Board elections would take place in August 2016 with the elected members taking office following certification of the election. The elected members of the DCD would be responsible for appointing a superintendent. Until elected board members take office, the DCD would be governed by a transitional manager appointed by Governor Rick Snyder. Additionally, a financial review commission (FRC) would oversee the finances of the DCD, including the approval of budgets and contracts. Under the proposal, for a period of five years (subject to one extension), a seven member education commission appointed by the mayor would develop recommendations and oversee the opening of new schools. Lastly, the package would instruct the state school reform/redesign officer to develop and implement a local accountability system, assigning letter grades to all public schools within the district. Persistently underperforming schools would be closed or subject to intervention. The package has been referred to the House Appropriations Committee for further consideration.

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