School Funding Goes Up ... Unions Want More

Michigan Capitol Confidential ^ | 6/25/2010 | Mackinac Center for Public Policy

[MichCapCon]

The Michigan Education Association, which represents a majority of the teachers in the state (who happen to be the highest paid in the nation when compared to relative state wealth), held a demonstration at the state Capitol yesterday to lobby for more money.

The union has even produced television and radio ads claiming teachers are treated like "punching bags" by the Legislature, but as this video shows, the MEA's claims do not meet muster when it comes to a basic fact-check.

Mike Van Beek, director of education policy, also explores common myths about public school funding, including the foundation allowance and claims of school employee "concessions."

The Center's school employee health insurance database reveals that teachers on average pay less than 4 percent toward the cost of their own premiums, while the statewide average for all employees in Michigan is 22 percent. Teachers in some 300 plans across Michigan contribute nothing to the cost of their own health insurance.

A similar rally was held in 2005. That year, according to the Michigan Department of Education, total revenue for public schools from all sources was $20.41 billion (in 2009 dollars), or $11,953 per student. In 2009, total revenue was $20.79 billion, or $12,838 per student...

[MichCapCon]

MI Ping

[cranked]

Unions and libtard control destroyed Michigan.....you would think that most people who live there would have figured this out a long time ago but instead of doing such, most have simply moved to other libtard controlled states. How wonderful. =.=

[BitWielder1]

You could generalize the headline to:
XYZ ... Unions Want More

[Mikey_1962]

Detroit Public School Spending per Student: 91st percentile

Detroit Public School Teacher's Pay: 96th percentile

Detroit Public School Student Performance: 3rd percentile

Greater Spending does not equal Greater Results.

[MichCapCon]

You wrote:
“Detroit Public School Spending per Student: 91st percentile

Detroit Public School Teacher’s Pay: 96th percentile

Detroit Public School Student Performance: 3rd percentile”

Where did you get those numbers?

[Mikey_1962]

I was back home in Detroit a few weeks ago in read it in the local paper.

I'll try to source it, but it was so shocking that I burned it into my memory.

[Mikey_1962]

Found it:

Statewide, Detroit’s spending per pupil is in the 91st percentile and DPS teachers are paid at the 96th percentile. For all that, by almost any measure Detroit schools have for decades failed their students: test scores, safety, drop out rates, etc. For example, Detroit’s public school students perform at the 3rd percentile in the state - that is, they are in the lowest 3 percent, and the district is in its second state takeover in a decade.

Source:
Detroit: The Triumph of Progressive Public Policy
http://www.mackinac.org/10743

[1010RD]

Great find!

[Chipper]

Please add me to the MI ping list.

[rbbeachkid]

Christie - ize them!

[cripplecreek]

Right off the top they need to stop blindly blaming it on liberals. The GOP holds the Michigan senate which means nothing happens without GOP help.

In fact, it was a republican with several republican co sponsors who introduced the forced unionization bill that led to the forced unionization of home care workers in Michigan.

Fortunately, the spotlight is starting to find them in Michigan. My suggestion is that conservatives in all the states start taking a long hard look at their legislatures. With all the attention on Washington, statehouses have been a free for all.