Enhancing Education: Michigan’s Pursuit of Governance Reform

The Michigan Department of Education recently announced the selection of Dr. Brian Jacob, a University of Michigan researcher, to study how the state’s education governance system can be improved for the benefit of public-school students.

The research will review the structure of school districts across the state, the allocation of responsibilities and authority across different levels of government, the state’s school finance system, and the state’s school choice system, and will include recommendations to state leaders for governance changes.

This is critical work for Michigan. If you’ve spent any time around Michigan’s education system, you know there are opportunities for structural improvement. Under our current model of educational governance, members of the State Board of Education are nominated at political party conventions and then oversee the state superintendent and Department of Education, even though these individuals are not directly involved in the state education budget or legislative policymaking.  Voters elect both the governor and the state board of education. Michigan is one of only six states in the nation that are lacking direct coordinated state education accountability to the legislature or governor.

While we’re excited to see what is learned from this research, there are steps Michigan can take now to improve our governance structure for students. Under the current system, the governor and the legislature identify priorities for education, create the necessary laws, and develop the budget each year to fund those initiatives. Yet the responsibility for the day-to-day support of schools and districts falls to the state superintendent and the Michigan Department of Education, often with different priorities set by the State Board of Education.

In high performing systems around the country, governors can champion comprehensive K-12 education improvement plans with legislative support as well as alignment with the state board of education and state superintendent. Not surprisingly, students in those states show stronger performance for reading and math and higher graduation rates.

This research will also dive into efficiencies. Recently, the Michigan Legislature created the school consolidation and infrastructure fund to provide grant funding opportunities of up to $250,000 for districts to conduct a pilot or feasibility study of school consolidation efforts. These dollars were alongside another $245 million for grants to support initial costs related to consolidation for districts that already conducted the pilot studies. 

Launch Michigan is supportive of this important research into Michigan’s education governance structure. At the same time, it’s critical that we maximize the extensive research that has already been done and use the dollars that have already been approved to allow districts to act on what we know to be true.

I know Dr. Jacob to be a staunch champion for the use of rigorous evidence on Michigan policymaking through our collaborations over the years. We’ve partnered on numerous projects since 2009, including the creation of the Michigan Education Research Institute, and I am thrilled to learn that he will be conducting this important study for Michigan. Launch Michigan stands ready and excited to learn and find solutions with our statewide partners that best support Michigan families and students.