State Roundup

Lansing
Panel suggests Mich. teacher evaluation system
LANSING, Mich. (AP) — An independent panel of educators is recommending a new statewide evaluation system for Michigan public school teachers and administrators that would include announced and unannounced classroom observations.
The recommendations have been submitted to Gov. Rick Snyder, some state legislators and state Education officials, according to the Michigan Council for Educator Effectiveness.
Hearings could begin this summer if approved by the Legislature, and schools would be required to have the evaluation system in place by the start of the 2015 academic year.
Teachers would be evaluated on their teaching practices and student academic growth based on standardized tests. School administrators, including district superintendents, principals and assistant principals, would be evaluated on their ability to evaluate teachers, progress they make on school improvement plans, attendance rates and other areas.
The evaluations would give three rating levels: “professional,” “provisional” or “ineffective.” Ineffective ratings for two consecutive years could result in dismissal.
Teachers would get better and consistent feedback about their classroom work under the system, according to the council.
“Every child in Michigan deserves skillful teachers, not just some of the time but each and every year,” said Deborah Loewenberg Ball, the council’s chairwoman. “And every teacher deserves the opportunity to develop and continue to refine his or her professional skill — to receive targeted feedback and professional learning opportunities to improve instruction. We believe a fair, transparent and rigorous teacher evaluation system can help transform the culture of the teaching profession and benefit the state’s 1.5 million schoolchildren.”
One of the goals is to identify weak or underperforming educators and to give them a chance to improve their skills, Ball added.
The council’s recommendations are “oriented to student learning and instructional improvement, not building a system that is punitive,” she said.
Unlike states such as Colorado and Indiana, Michigan would not tie teacher compensation to evaluations under the recommendations. Ball said there is insufficient evidence to support pay-for-performance programs at this time.
The council was created in 2011 and the evaluation system is part of changes to the teacher tenure system passed by the Legislature.
Parts of the new tenure law were opposed by teachers unions at the time.
More than 800 teacher evaluation systems currently are in place at the state’s roughly 850 school districts and charter schools.

Grand Rapids
$750K settlement reached in 2010 plane crash
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (AP) — The family of one of two Hope College students killed in a 2010 plane crash has agreed to settle a lawsuit against the federal government for $750,000.
The Grand Rapids Press reports the settlement with family of 20-year-old passenger Emma Biagioni of St. Charles, Ill., is expected to be reviewed next month by a judge.
Biagioni died along with 23-year-old pilot David Otai of Nairobi, Kenya, when the rented Cessna crashed Jan. 17, 2010, in Allegan County’s Manlius Township. The crash site is near Tulip City Airport, which now is called West Michigan Regional Airport.
Biagioni’s family blamed air traffic controllers for failing to help Otai when he radioed he was having trouble in heavy fog.
The government says controllers acted with “due care” and didn’t cause the crash.

Detroit
Wayne State to build advanced tech center
WARREN, Mich. (AP) — Wayne State University is breaking ground on a facility that expands its relationship with Macomb Community College.
The Detroit-based university kicked off construction Wednesday of its Advanced Technology Education Center in Warren. The project involves renovating a former retail property across from the Macomb County college north of Detroit.
Ahmad Ezzeddine is Wayne State’s associate vice president for educational outreach and international programs. He says the center creates opportunities for both schools’ students to complete four-year degrees in engineering, computer science, advanced manufacturing and other fields.
Ezzeddine says Wayne State has existing programs at the community college and the new facility further integrates them. The center also intends to work closely with nearby automotive- and military-related research and production facilities.
The center plans to open in the fall of 2014.h