STATE OF OPPORTUNITY. Can Kids in Michigan Get Ahead?
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This special reporting project wrapped up in May 2017. Read more.

Checking in on Michigan's first fully privatized school district

If you haven't heard it yet, tune it to Lindsey Smiths's series on how kids are faring in Muskegon Heights. Muskegon Heights is the first place in the state to turn all its public schools over to a charter company, Mosaica Education. Mosaica has a spotty record trying to improve student achievement in the state. Two schools under their operation have been closed.

Yesterday Smith reported on what drove the district to privatize. Today's report focuses on high rates of teacher turnover. Tomorrow we'll hear from some of the students.

Feedback from these stories has been coming in and one thing I've heard a lot is a call for coverage of the proposed expansion of the state's Educational Achievement Authority (called the EAA). The EAA was the state authority that allowed Muskegon Heights to turn over their schools to Mosaica.

Our colleagues at Michigan Radio and the State of Opportunity team will continue to cover those proposals. As always, we invite you to share your experience with educational reform and inform our stories.