[Vision2020] Interesting Report by S&P on Michigan's Govt Schools

[John Harrell]

Standard & Poors releases data on state's public schools 

http://www.mlive.com/newsflash/regional/index.ssf?/cgi-free/getstory_ssf.cgi?g9383_BC_MI--SchoolRatings&&news&newsflash-michigan

The Associated Press
2/3/03 5:27 PM

LANSING, Mich. (AP) -- More than half the school districts that spent more per 
student than the state average had below-passing rates on the Michigan Educational 
Assessment Program test, according to an analysis of the state's public schools. 

Standard & Poor's School Evaluation Services released a report Monday that 
analyzed trends in the state's public education system from 1996-97 to 2000-01. 
It's the second comprehensive report about Michigan's public schools. 

The division of Standard & Poor's, known for rating businesses, government 
agencies and even other countries, tracks where taxpayer dollars go and analyzes 
if spending increases boost student performance. 

The Statewide Insights report showed that of the 181 school districts that spent 
more per student than the state average, 92 had below-average passing rates on 
the MEAP. Of the 343 school districts with below-average spending, 171 had 
above-average MEAP passing rates. 

Other highlights of the report: 

--The graduation rate increased from 80.7 percent of students in 1997 to 86.3 
percent in 2001. 

--Per-student operating expenditures grew by 19 percent from 1997 to 2001, 
nearly twice the cumulative inflation rate of 10.2 percent.

-- The average administrator's salary rose 12.3 percent while the average 
teacher's salary increased by 8.4 percent. 

Cheers!
John Harrell

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