National Council of Education Providers in the News - Michigan Charter Schools Make the Grade

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ncep MICHIGAN FACT SHEET

CHARTER SCHOOLS MAKE THE GRADE
New Research Reveals Charters Help Michigan Students Succeed,
Respond to Public Demand for Education Reform

Lansing, Michigan (September 8, 2004) -- As Michigan's kids return to school this week, almost 85,000 of them will attend the state’s 230 public charter schools -- making Michigan one of the most progressive states in the nation in providing alternative public school options. These kids start classes amidst national controversy over whether these alternatives are actually helping them succeed. Michigan's leading education providers released data today that shows these schools outperform their traditional counterparts -- and a brand new statewide survey suggesting that charter schools are providing exactly the bold education reforms the Michigan public demands.

“We’re in Michigan classrooms every day and I can tell you firsthand that we’re seeing real progress in schools across the state,” said Jon Hage, chairman of the National Council of Education Providers (NCEP), that commissioned the survey and serves over 30,000 Michigan public school students in almost 70 public charter schools. “But it’s important for us to look beyond our test results and seek feedback from our communities as well – and these latest survey results reveal that Michiganders, indeed, support serious reforms in education. It’s a message to all educators that our work is not done.”

WHAT NEW RESEARCH REVEALS

The quality of the state's education remains among the most critical public concerns.

In the face of a bumpy, if not slow, economic recovery, still half (50%) of Michigan residents view the issue of a quality education as among the top two (2) issues facing the state right now. And according to 16% of residents there is no issue in Michigan more important than education.

Specifically among parents of children in public schools, a third (31%) view the issue of education as the most important issue facing the state.

Michiganders believe the state’s education system falls short of success.

Considering the importance residents place on the issue of education how they rate their own public schools is extremely underwhelming. Forty-one percent (41%), a plurality, of residents rate their public schools as providing "at best an adequate education to most students."

Residents of Wayne County venture further toward the road of mediocrity in rating their public schools in that one in five (19%) say their public schools "fail more often than succeed" in providing a quality education to students.

Again, considering that education ranks as among the top two issues with one out of every two residents in Michigan, the public's view of how their public schools rate in managing school curriculum raises concern. Twenty-nine (29%) of the state's residents say their public schools do only an "adequate" job of "choosing and implementing a curriculum."

And among those residents who think their schools fail more often than they succeed in educating students, a quarter (27%) say their schools do a “poor” job with curriculum.

Michiganders support options beyond traditional public schools.

Introducing elements of a competitive marketplace to the education system is an intriguing notion to many residents in Michigan. In particular, residents aggressively support providing parents with more school options for their children beyond just the school to which they've been assigned. The options that could be provided to parents that resonate include sending their child to another public school, a public charter school, or a private or parochial school.

Fully three-quarters of the residents in the state support providing parents with the option of sending their children to a school of their choice beyond just the school to which they've been assigned. More importantly, a majority (54%) strongly favor providing this option to parents.

Providing this option is of particular interest to parents of children currently enrolled in public schools, among whom 84% favor the option of being able to choose another school for their child beyond the one to which they've been assigned.

Additionally, a solid majority (55%) of residents favor providing financial aid to low-income parents to enable them to send their child to the school of their choice over the school to which they have been assigned.

Michiganders support bold reforms already at work in public charter schools.

Moving beyond just spending more money on schools, Michiganders support a number of specific improvements. In particular, expanding the pool of teachers and recognizing teacher achievement are bold steps in education reform that account for a consensus of opinion.

Sixty-four percent (64%) of residents say they favor expanding the pool of potential teachers to include professionals who may not have a teaching degree but possess a degree or an expertise in a particular subject matter such as math or science.

Another two-thirds (64%) of residents favor implementing a performance-based pay system for teachers. Under such a system, teachers would be rewarded financially for assuming greater responsibility in the school, demonstrating special skill sets and having a positive impact on student achievement.

The state’s 230 charter schools – particularly those operated by education providers – have long-since incorporated these popular reforms. And quantifiable student achievement gains demonstrate that these innovative improvements indeed translate into greater student success.

Public charter schools are outperforming many of their traditional counterparts.

In Michigan, charter schools showed greater gains than the statewide average in seven of 10 grades and subjects on the 2004 Michigan Educational Assessment Program (MEAP) test.

Most charters saw improved 2004 MEAPs; about 70% increased both their cumulative 4th- and 8th-grade scores.

Detroit, Flint and Grand Rapids charters outpaced the traditional districts in most grades/subjects by as much as 10-26 percentage points.

Specifically, Oakland Public School Academy out-gained other state schools by 4% and district schools by 11% over the 2002-2003 school years.

YMCA Service Learning Academy out-gained other state and district schools by 13% over the 2002-2003 school years.

Michigan Imagine Schools increased Level 1 &2 proficiency on the MEAP by up to 60.5% between 2003-2004.

Charter schools managed by professional education providers, also known as Education Management Organizations (EMOs) are among those that demonstrate particularly high levels of student progress. The 2003 Brookings Institution’s “Brown Center Report on American Education” showed that nationally EMO charters out-gained Non-EMO charters and regular public schools between 2000 and 2002.

Parent satisfaction is greater among charter school parents than the population as a whole.

Again, new survey results reveal that as many as one-in-five people in some Michigan communities believe public schools are “failing more than succeeding.”

Satisfaction among parents sending their children to charter schools remains considerably higher, especially among those Michigan charters operated by professional education providers:

85% of parents with children enrolled in Edison’s schools grade their school an A or B as compared to only 68% of public school parents nationally.

Over 95% of parents would recommend National Heritage Academies to friends.

Over 96% of parents with children at National Heritage Academies are satisfied or very satisfied with their child’s academic progress.

For more information, see NCEP's Michigan Charter School Fact Sheet.

# # #

About the National Council of Education Providers

The National Council of Education Providers (NCEP) was founded as a new association in early 2004 to actively work to promote quality educational options in the communities they serve. NCEP is currently comprised of the six largest education providers of schooling, and operate 267 schools in 17 states and the District of Columbia. NCEP contributes more than $1 billion to the economy annually.

In Michigan, NCEP members manage 70 public charter schools and serve over 30,000 students in 14 communities. Specific NCEP-member companies operating in Michigan include Edison Schools, Mosaica Education, and National Heritage Academies.

For more information, contact NCEP at (202) 822-5076.

	In the face of a bumpy, if not slow, economic recovery, still half (50%) of Michigan residents view the issue of a quality education as among the top two (2) issues facing the state right now. And according to 16% of residents there is no issue in Michigan more important than education.
	Specifically among parents of children in public schools, a third (31%) view the issue of education as the most important issue facing the state.

	Considering the importance residents place on the issue of education how they rate their own public schools is extremely underwhelming. Forty-one percent (41%), a plurality, of residents rate their public schools as providing "at best an adequate education to most students."
	Residents of Wayne County venture further toward the road of mediocrity in rating their public schools in that one in five (19%) say their public schools "fail more often than succeed" in providing a quality education to students.
	Again, considering that education ranks as among the top two issues with one out of every two residents in Michigan, the public's view of how their public schools rate in managing school curriculum raises concern. Twenty-nine (29%) of the state's residents say their public schools do only an "adequate" job of "choosing and implementing a curriculum."
	And among those residents who think their schools fail more often than they succeed in educating students, a quarter (27%) say their schools do a “poor” job with curriculum.

	Introducing elements of a competitive marketplace to the education system is an intriguing notion to many residents in Michigan. In particular, residents aggressively support providing parents with more school options for their children beyond just the school to which they've been assigned. The options that could be provided to parents that resonate include sending their child to another public school, a public charter school, or a private or parochial school.
	Fully three-quarters of the residents in the state support providing parents with the option of sending their children to a school of their choice beyond just the school to which they've been assigned. More importantly, a majority (54%) strongly favor providing this option to parents.
	Providing this option is of particular interest to parents of children currently enrolled in public schools, among whom 84% favor the option of being able to choose another school for their child beyond the one to which they've been assigned.
	Additionally, a solid majority (55%) of residents favor providing financial aid to low-income parents to enable them to send their child to the school of their choice over the school to which they have been assigned.

	Moving beyond just spending more money on schools, Michiganders support a number of specific improvements. In particular, expanding the pool of teachers and recognizing teacher achievement are bold steps in education reform that account for a consensus of opinion.
	Sixty-four percent (64%) of residents say they favor expanding the pool of potential teachers to include professionals who may not have a teaching degree but possess a degree or an expertise in a particular subject matter such as math or science.
	Another two-thirds (64%) of residents favor implementing a performance-based pay system for teachers. Under such a system, teachers would be rewarded financially for assuming greater responsibility in the school, demonstrating special skill sets and having a positive impact on student achievement.
	The state’s 230 charter schools – particularly those operated by education providers – have long-since incorporated these popular reforms. And quantifiable student achievement gains demonstrate that these innovative improvements indeed translate into greater student success.

	In Michigan, charter schools showed greater gains than the statewide average in seven of 10 grades and subjects on the 2004 Michigan Educational Assessment Program (MEAP) test.
	Most charters saw improved 2004 MEAPs; about 70% increased both their cumulative 4th- and 8th-grade scores.
	Detroit, Flint and Grand Rapids charters outpaced the traditional districts in most grades/subjects by as much as 10-26 percentage points.
	Specifically, Oakland Public School Academy out-gained other state schools by 4% and district schools by 11% over the 2002-2003 school years.
	YMCA Service Learning Academy out-gained other state and district schools by 13% over the 2002-2003 school years.
	Michigan Imagine Schools increased Level 1 &2 proficiency on the MEAP by up to 60.5% between 2003-2004.
	Charter schools managed by professional education providers, also known as Education Management Organizations (EMOs) are among those that demonstrate particularly high levels of student progress. The 2003 Brookings Institution’s “Brown Center Report on American Education” showed that nationally EMO charters out-gained Non-EMO charters and regular public schools between 2000 and 2002.

	Again, new survey results reveal that as many as one-in-five people in some Michigan communities believe public schools are “failing more than succeeding.”
	Satisfaction among parents sending their children to charter schools remains considerably higher, especially among those Michigan charters operated by professional education providers:
	85% of parents with children enrolled in Edison’s schools grade their school an A or B as compared to only 68% of public school parents nationally.
	Over 95% of parents would recommend National Heritage Academies to friends.
	Over 96% of parents with children at National Heritage Academies are satisfied or very satisfied with their child’s academic progress.