Michigan ranks sixth in the nation for education policy in a report released Monday by a controversial national advocacy group.
The group Students First says Michigan gets high marks for legislation pushed by state Republicans in recent years. They’re applauding measures creating a state-run district for struggling schools, and making it tougher for teachers to get and retain tenure.
Some state school advocacy groups are bashing the report. Doug Pratt of the Michigan Education Association says it downplays many serious problems facing schools in the state.
“I’m not sure what measurements they’re using to come up with this, but it sure isn’t anything that the educators of the state believe in,” he says.
Students First was founded by controversial former Washington D.C. schools chancellor Michelle Rhee.
The group based the results on state policies, and did not factor in student test scores.
