LANSING – Michigan put together a package of education reforms that should make it more than competitive to win a chunk of the $4.35 billion in federal education money that President Barack Obama is dangling through the “Race to the Top” program to entice states to overhaul public education, officials said Monday.

Two days after the Legislature wrapped up work on the bills during a rare Saturday session, legislators and school officials said Michigan distinguished itself by tailoring its application to meet the “Race to the Top” scoring criteria and with its timing (SB 926 , SB 981 , HB 4787 , HB 4788 , HB 5596 ).

Most states have part-time legislatures whose governors are calling them into special sessions to put together their legislation, giving them less time and flexibility to put together their plans. Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen, for example, has called a special session of his state’s Legislature for January.

Other states left out some reforms that would earn them points in the “Race to the Top” scoring criteria. Ohio, for example, did not make changes to its charter schools, nor did it address alternative paths to teacher certification.

“It’s really going to give us a leg up,” said Rep. Tim Melton (D-Auburn Hills), the lead negotiator in the House on the package, of how Michigan’s plan compares to other states. “I think Michigan’s in a great position from the legislation we passed.”

Brad Biladeau of the Michigan Association of School Administrators, who at times questioned the Legislature’s seriousness about tailoring its reforms to “Race to the Top,” said the end product positions the state well. He and Melton said they are hearing of other states with part-time legislatures that have yet to act and may not do so.

“Our state seems to be one of the few that has really taken the initiative to pass reforms,” Biladeau said.

However, a report in Education Week cast some doubt on the state’s chances. Michigan was one of 14 states that applied, but failed to qualify for technical assistance the Gates Foundation offered to states in their “Race to the Top” applications. Ten states won through an application process and another 15 were pre-selected by the foundation.

Education Week reported that a common thread among the losing states was the overly easy ability of teachers to obtain tenure and the lack of links between student and teacher data.

Melton, who participated in a news conference call Monday with Sen. Buzz Thomas (D-Detroit) that was sponsored by Michigan Democrats for Education Reform, said the most significant portion of the legislation is the creation of a mechanism for direct state intervention in the school buildings with the worst academic performance.

About 180 schools would likely qualify for state intervention, although those numbers will fluctuate until federal officials solidify the criteria for identifying the bottom 5 percent performing schools, Melton said.

Melton said the House Education Committee, which he chairs, would hold a hearing January 14 on the issue of giving Robert Bobb, the Detroit Public Schools emergency financial manager, control of academics in the district. That nearly became part of the overall education reform package, but lawmakers decided to make it a stand-alone issue.

Another issue to watch will be how districts handle teacher tenure hearings. Lawmakers did not alter the tenure statute, but did make changes in a separate law, the School Code, that allows the use of student performance in teacher evaluation. Biladeau said it probably would require a test case in court to see whether districts will be able to use the new information on teacher performance in the tenure process.

Biladeau said school districts also will be watching the financial ramifications of the package, such as raising the dropout age to 18 beginning with students now in the sixth grade.

Thomas, who sponsored the charter school legislation, credited the Obama administration with giving education reform a big kick-start with the “Race to the Top” program.

“This was almost like the perfect storm in terms of opportunity for education reform,” he said. “I believe Michigan has set itself apart.”

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