UPDATE: Action in Lansing

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.