Here's our press release from this past Wednesday's action in Lansing. Though we were small in numbers, we managed to get the university Presidents' attention. We were told that they DID discuss our letter addressing charter schools in Detroit at their meeting!
LANSING,
MICHIGAN.
On Wednesday, November 4th, 2015 students from Grand Valley
State University and the University of Michigan, with student support from
Eastern Michigan University and Central Michigan University, presented a letter
to the Michigan Association of State University President's Council Meeting.
This letter was addressed to all the presidents from Universities across the
state demanding that they:
● Commit to immediately cease opening
and closing until the creation of the Detroit Education Commission (DEC).
● Contact Jared Burkhart and Cindy
Schumacher by November 13th to demand that the Michigan Council of Charter
School Authorizers enact and public a policy by December 1 that all authorizers
must stop opening and closing schools in Detroit until the creation of the DEC
and that they lobby in favor of the Coalition for the Future of Detroit
Schoolchildren Recommendations
● Make a public statement, on behalf of
their University stating their support of the Recommendations and their
Universities commitment to immediately stop opening and closing schools in
Detroit until the creation of the Detroit Education Commission (DEC)
“I hope that the Presidents of Universities with charter schools take this
issue very seriously and listen to the demands of the community” declared
student organizer Rebecca Wren. The Students gave the Presidents a November
13th deadline to respond to the demands.
The Students in
Solidarity campaign continued with the student organizers hand delivering a
letter to the Michigan Council of Charter School Authorizers demanding they
immediately create and enact a policy of cessation of the opening and closing
of charter schools in Detroit and that they support the recommendations.
Additionally the students handed out flyers throughout Lansing emphasizing the
need for local control and community voice. Gina Goldfaden from the University
of Michigan said “It is difficult talking to people, but it can really be a
rewarding task if you put in the time and effort” when discussing the flyering
part of the action. The students also met with state representatives to express
their concern about the charter system and they stressed how important the
future of Detroit's schoolchildren is.
Alex Kelley, from Grand Valley State, said: “The responses we received from our state
representatives were very encouraging” after talking to the state
representatives.
Students at universities across Michigan are banding together
to demand that their university presidents put an end to the unchecked opening
and closing of Detroit charter schools. Currently, many universities are
opening and closing charter schools in Detroit at their own will and without
community voice. This results in more failing schools and it complicates the
education process for parents. Students across the
state have an impetus to act and help influence the system.
Considering Governor Snyder’s recent proposal to address
education in Detroit, university students across the state are taking their own
action to hold their institutions accountable for their contribution to the
chaos in the Detroit school system. Furthermore, there is still a need to push
for community voice which is left out of most of the proposed legislation. The
university presidents and their authorizing boards have the power to curb the
authorizing actions across Detroit.
➢ Currently, nine universities are
opening and closing charter schools in Detroit without any coordination with
each other or the community. Those institutions are: Oakland State University,
Eastern Michigan University, Grand Valley State University, Central Michigan
University, Lake Superior State University, Ferris State University, Saginaw
Valley University, Bay Mills Community College, and Northern Michigan
University.
➢ The University of Michigan, Wayne
State, and MSU, although not authorizers, play a significant role in
influencing university authorizers across the state.
➢ In many cases, Detroit students
cannot gain acceptance into the universities that authorize their poorly
performing charter schools. Many of the students are unable to obtain the
minimum ACT score required to get into universities.
➢ Approximately 70% of charter schools
in Detroit are for-profit.
This state-wide university student organizing network began
with the help of students from: Grand Valley State University’s chapter of
United Students Against Sweatshops, Eastern Michigan Students for an Ethical
and Participatory Education and LEAD Fellows, Central Michigan University
Student Social Work Association, University of Michigan United Students Against
Sweatshops, and Fight for $15. These students have consulted with Detroit
stakeholders and community members. Students interested in this state-wide
university student organizing network can contact Nicole Kleiman-Moran to get
involved.
