Turning Education Priorities into Policies

A recent survey by SEMCOG and the Metropolitan Affairs Coalition (MAC) asked Southeast Michigan residents to share their opinions on the most important components of a K-12 curriculum; attributes that would best ensure a successful education system; and how different education approaches positively impact the education system.

Throughout Southeast Michigan, residents rated reading and writing, problem solving/analytical skills, and math as the most important components of a curriculum. Science and teamwork/communications round out the top five. Interestingly, while science and math are technical, the other three components are “soft” or foundational skills that prepare students for career and life success – not just education.

For attributes of a successful education system, availability of qualified and trained teachers ranked highest, followed by all districts being adequately funded, and active parental participation. Having a curriculum that meets future workforce needs and ensuring that teachers’ salaries are competitive with other professionals were also in the top five. The public clearly recognizes the importance of teachers in creating a successful education system.

Finally, for approaches that positively impact the education system in Southeast Michigan, local public schools were the number one approach in every county, followed by centralized career technical academies, and private/parochial schools. Schools of Choice were also highly rated in Livingston and St. Clair counties.

For more details, read the full report of the survey prepared by Cobalt Community Research.

In Partnering for Prosperity: Southeast Michigan’s Economic Development Strategy, SEMCOG and MAC recommended that education policies “provide quality education systems for all students…by increasing investment in primary and secondary education, increasing access to and equity in education, and creating better linkages among education systems and preparing students for transition to post-secondary education.”

Members of the SEMCOG/MAC Education Reform Task Force also took this survey, and their results are very consistent with the general public. This group, made up of leaders from education, business, labor and government, has been working for several months to address critical areas in public education, and develop education policies and implementation strategies to benefit students and schools in Southeast Michigan. The goal is an education system that responds to students’ needs and promotes their success, also leading to economic growth and prosperity in the region.

The public priorities identified in the survey are also consistent with the priorities identified by the Governor’s 21st Century Education Commission. The Commission’s report The Best Education System for Michigan’s Success was released earlier this month and identifies nine guiding principles and 32 key strategies for creating a world-class P-20 education system. These include critical issues that the Education Reform Task Force has discussed, such as Elevating the Education Profession; Investing in an Efficient and Effective System of Public Funding; Increasing Access to Postsecondary Education; Partnering with Parents; and Updating K-12 Governance.

Representatives of the Governor’s Office and members of the Commission will present their findings at the Education Reform Task Force meeting on March 29 at 9:00 a.m., at the SEMCOG/MAC offices in Detroit. Contact me at SEMCOG if you are interested in participating in the meeting.