1. K-12 Education What reporters need to know

2. Governmental structure / K-12 education is both / A creature of state government / And a unit of local government / Special case: Charter schools / Creature of chartering agency / K-12 education is both / A creature of state government / And a unit of local government / Special case: Charter schools / Creature of chartering agency

3. Creature of state gov’t / State government controls / Curriculum / Teacher standards / Funding / State government controls / Curriculum / Teacher standards / Funding

4. Curriculum / Core curriculum / Math, science, language arts, social studies / Grade-level expectations / Graduation requirements / Recently expanded beyond Govt/econ / Core curriculum / Math, science, language arts, social studies / Grade-level expectations / Graduation requirements / Recently expanded beyond Govt/econ

5. Teacher standards / Requires all teachers to be certified / To teach in Michigan / At their grade level or subject area / Sets certification standards / Enforced through university programs / Requires all teachers to be certified / To teach in Michigan / At their grade level or subject area / Sets certification standards / Enforced through university programs

6. Funding / Controls revenue of local districts / 1994 Constitutional Amendment, “Proposal A.” / Controls revenue of local districts / 1994 Constitutional Amendment, “Proposal A.”

7. Unit of local gov’t / School districts / Geographically defined / Governed by elected Board of Education / Administered by superintendent / School districts / Geographically defined / Governed by elected Board of Education / Administered by superintendent

8. School districts / Unique geographic areas / Formed by consolidation of older, smaller attendance areas / Don’t necessarily follow county or municipal boundaries / http://tinyurl.com/chv5oh / Unique geographic areas / Formed by consolidation of older, smaller attendance areas / Don’t necessarily follow county or municipal boundaries / http://tinyurl.com/chv5oh

9. Boards of education / Elected by the people / At large / On non-partisan ballot / Exercise legislative power / Establish policies / Hire/fire superintendents / Elected by the people / At large / On non-partisan ballot / Exercise legislative power / Establish policies / Hire/fire superintendents

10. Superintendents / Professional educators / Experienced / Advanced degrees / Highly paid / Oversee all school operations / Recommend and supervise staff / Professional educators / Experienced / Advanced degrees / Highly paid / Oversee all school operations / Recommend and supervise staff

11. Questions? / Today’s PowerPoint design is “Chalkboard”