Mich. Education Dept. Seeks Reform Office Funds

Lansing, Mich.

The Michigan Department of Education said Wednesday it needs $2.2 million over the next 18 months to set up and staff a school reform office required by state law.

The new law requires the department to identify the lowest-performing 5 percent of the state's public schools by Sept. 1. Roughly 170 to 200 schools on the list would be placed under the supervision of the yet-to-be-established reform office. Some of them could be taken over by the state if their proposed academic turnaround plans are rejected.

State schools superintendent Mike Flanagan said the department needs $500,000 by April to fund the 14 new positions at the office, and would need $1.7 million more for the new budget year that begins Oct. 1. The requirement for more staffing comes as the state already is struggling...