Building an education system that supports student needs and regional growth

The role of education in building a strong economy cannot be disputed, but what does a successful K-12 education system look like? Should it focus on individual or employer needs? Current workforce needs or building a strong foundation to prepare students for a changing economy? Technical skills or personal development skills, such as problem solving and communication?

How is K-12 preparing students to transition to post-secondary education, and how is higher education collaborating with K-12 to ensure the most effective transitions? How are successful schools funded? How do they attract and retain teachers? What are the particular needs of urban schools? How do we ensure that all students achieve success?

A new joint SEMCOG/Metropolitan Affairs Coalition (MAC) Task Force on Education Reform has commenced to consider questions like these. The group’s objective is to ensure that Michigan’s public education system is adequately providing all students with the academic foundation needed for college and career success.

The SEMCOG/MAC Education Reform Task Force met on May 25, 2016 at SEMCOG’s offices

In many cases, districts are underfunded; have limited flexibility to adapt to changing education and workforce needs; lack sufficient support systems; do not provide adequate foundational, workplace readiness, or technical skills; and do not recognize different learning styles.

Co-Chair (left): Don Hubler, Macomb County Intermediate School District Board of Education Secretary
Co-Chair: David Hecker, American Federation of Teachers President

The Task Force is co-chaired by two dynamic education leaders. Don Hubler is a Macomb ISD board member, SEMCOG Vice Chairperson, and member of the National Association of School Boards. David Hecker is President of AFT Michigan, Vice Chair of MAC, and Co-Chair of the Coalition for the Future of Detroit’s Schoolchildren.

Task Force members represent K-12 education, intermediate school districts, community colleges, universities, business, labor, state and local governments, and workforce development.

This group understands that creating a successful education system requires policymakers to:

• focus on teacher recruitment and retention;
• provide adequate funding and wraparound services;
• create strategies for engaging parents, recognizing the specific needs of students from low-income households; and
• raise education attainment for all students.

Task Force members have also raised these issues for consideration:

• appreciation of education as a public good,
• more early childhood education,
• leveraging successful programs in other districts and states,
• connecting schools more closely with the community by developing underused buildings into multi-service community centers, and
• addressing policies and practices for special education.

Led by leaders of the Coalition for the Future of Detroit’s Schoolchildren, the first Task Force meeting focused on efforts to support Detroit Public Schools and the challenges of urban districts. David Hecker; John Rakolta Jr., Chairman and CEO, Walbridge; and Angela Reyes, Executive Director, Detroit Hispanic Development Corporation, are co-chairs of the Coalition and discussed its objectives, process, and recommendations as well as the impact state legislation would have in supporting the recommendations.

The Coalition’s focus is on improving academic achievement, developing a coherent system of education, and involving residents in education decisions. Legislation was approved by the Michigan Legislature for Detroit Public Schools last week and provides resources and opportunities to meet some of these objectives, but not all.

Future discussions on the funding of education, the role of teachers, state policies on career technical education, and creating a more responsive education system will provide the basis of the Task Force’s policy recommendations. These will be considered for inclusion in the SEMCOG and MAC legislative platforms. In addition, we will continue to work with education, business and labor stakeholders with a view to promoting successful programs that address the region’s education challenges through workshops, reports and presentations.

Look for updates in future blogs and let us know what you think.