January 19, 2010, A new report by the Citizens Research Council of Michigan analyzes how public education is structured and governed in Michigan. The report finds education governance to be complex with multiple government officials and agencies from all levels of government involved in education governance and policymaking. The report discusses the roles of the federal government, state government, intermediate school districts, local school districts, and public school academies (i.e., charter schools) in Michigan's education governance system. It used to be that public education in Michigan was the responsibility of local government officials, but now it is considered a high priority by officials at all levels of government mirroring a nation-wide trend toward more centralized education funding and governance. Beyond the formal education governance structure, other groups and actors have influence over education governance and policy, including federal and state courts, unions, state and local education associations, and community interest groups.
An interstate comparison of education governance structures puts education governance in Michigan into context. In general, Michigan has a large number of districts that tend to be smaller than average in terms of population per district, students per district, and geographic size. Michigan also stands out with a more centralized funding structure due to the passage of Proposal A in 1994, which gave the state the authority to determine operating funding levels for local school districts.
"The system of education governance in place today creates a complex political environment, with multiple federal, state, and local actors involved in developing and implementing education policy," said Jill Roof, CRC Research Associate. "This can make accountability difficult as the picture of who has control over what becomes obscured, but it also creates checks and balances in education governance," said Roof.
This paper is the first in a series on public K-12 education governance in Michigan. "The goal of this paper is to provide a framework to understand education governance, funding, and policy development in Michigan, as well as to understand the implications of policy decisions made by education officials at all levels of government," said Jeff Guilfoyle, CRC President. Future papers will discuss potential governance reforms and other education policy issues, such as school finance, in more detail.
Access Public Education Governance in Michigan.
IN THE NEWS
December 2, 2009, Federal, state, and local governments have all implemented various programs aimed at increasing the supply of affordable housing for low income residents. The loss of high wage, low skill jobs; the foreclosure crisis; tight credit; the national recession; and continuing problems in balancing the state budget have contributed to the need for new approaches to meet the challenge of affordable housing. While some communities are overwhelmed with vacant, foreclosed properties and dispossessed families, others are concerned with providing housing for low wage service workers, seniors, or special needs populations. The differences in regional economies within the state has resulted in a need for funding structures that can be adapted to meet particular low income housing needs.
The report, Housing Trust Funds: Barriers and Opportunities, also explores income metrics, federal low income housing programs, the Michigan State Housing Development Authority, state constitutional issues, land trusts, and land banks.
"We have an opportunity to develop new structures to address the old problem of providing decent, safe housing for low income residents. This can be done in a way that leverages state resources, meets local and regional needs, and takes advantage of unique opportunities in this troubled economy," according to Bettie Buss, CRC Senior Research Associate.
Access Housing Trust Funds: Barriers and Opportunities.
IN THE NEWS
Citizens Research Council Report Tracks Changes in Public Sector Employment Caused by Recession
October 19, 2009, Michigan has been shedding jobs continuously since June 2000, and Michigan employment is now more than 20 percent below the June 2000 peak. In its most recent publication, the Citizens Research Council of Michigan, focuses on the job losses in the public sector over this time period, comparing public sector outcomes with what has occurred in the private sector. Michigan Private and Public Sector Levels over the Business Cycle finds that the changes in public sector employment have been multifaceted, with the public sector employment changes dependent on a number of factors.
In the short-term, public sector employment levels tend to be more stable than the private sector. This is attributable to a host of factors, including the composition of state and local government employment, the relative stability of the underlying revenues supporting state and local jobs, and the "countercyclical" nature of some governmental programs. As a result, state and local government employment may not react as quickly to the ups and downs of the business cycle. Over the longer-term, however, public sector budgets are forced to cope with declining resources and adjust personnel levels accordingly.
Over Michigan's prolonged recession, dating back to 2000, trends in public sector employment levels mirror what has occurred in the private sector, but without the severity. Since its high water mark in August 2001, the size of the public sector in Michigan has contracted. Within the public sector, however, there has been considerable variance with respect to composition. Generally, higher education and hospital employment levels are up and K-12 education and State of Michigan classified employment levels are down.
"No doubt Michigan's public sector, like the private sector, has been affected by the economic challenges facing the state. The slowdown in economic activity has reduced public budgets and therefore employment levels in state and local government, but most of the changes are visible over the longer-term as opposed to the short-term," commented Craig Thiel, CRC's Director of State Affairs.
Access Michigan Private and Public Sector Employment Levels over the Business Cycle.
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Recent Publications
Public Education Governance in Michigan
Housing Trust Funds: Barriers and Opportunities
Detroit Ballot Issues: Proposal S: Detroit Public Schools Bond Proposal
Detroit Ballot Issues: Proposal D: Election of Detroit City Council Members
Streamlining Functions and Services of Kent County and Metropolitan Grand Rapids Cities
Late Budgets in Michigan: Causes, Effects, and Implications
Michigan State and Local Government Retirement Systems
Reforming the Process for Identifying and Funding Section 29 Mandates on Local Governments
Dual Deficits and Federal Recovery Assistance: Prospects for State Budget Balance
Michigan's Weakened Financial Position and the Problem of Dual Deficits
Last Updated January 18, 2010
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