Education Achievement Authority

Education Achievement Authority. The Education Achievement Authority was a public school district in Michigan, United States, established in 2011 to oversee the state's lowest-performing schools, including those in Detroit Public Schools. The district was created by Governor Rick Snyder and Michigan Legislature to improve student achievement and provide innovative educational models, such as Project-Based Learning and Personalized Learning, with support from organizations like Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and W.K. Kellogg Foundation. The district's efforts were also influenced by the work of Diane Ravitch, Jonathan Kozol, and Alfie Kohn, who have written extensively on Education Reform and No Child Left Behind Act.

Introduction

The Education Achievement Authority was designed to be a Charter School-like system, with a focus on Autonomy and Accountability, similar to models used in New Orleans Public Schools and Chicago Public Schools. The district's schools were managed by Eastern Michigan University, with support from University of Michigan and Michigan State University, and were subject to regular evaluations and assessments, including Standardized Testing and Value-Added Modeling. The district's approach was also informed by the work of Linda Darling-Hammond, Pedro Noguera, and Carol Dweck, who have researched Teacher Education and School Leadership. The Education Achievement Authority's efforts were part of a broader movement towards Education Reform in the United States, which has been shaped by Federal Legislation such as the Elementary and Secondary Education Act and Every Student Succeeds Act.

History

The Education Achievement Authority was established in 2011, with the passage of Public Act 436 by the Michigan Legislature, which was signed into law by Governor Rick Snyder. The district began operating in the 2012-2013 school year, with an initial cohort of 15 schools, including Brenda Scott Academy and Cody High School, which were previously part of Detroit Public Schools. The district's early years were marked by challenges, including Teacher Turnover and Budget Cuts, which were exacerbated by the Great Recession and Michigan's Economic Crisis. Despite these challenges, the district made progress in improving student achievement, with support from organizations like National Education Association and American Federation of Teachers. The Education Achievement Authority's history is also connected to the broader context of Education Policy in the United States, which has been shaped by Supreme Court decisions such as Brown v. Board of Education and Plessy v. Ferguson.

Structure and Governance

The Education Achievement Authority was governed by a Board of Directors, which was appointed by Governor Rick Snyder and Eastern Michigan University. The district's superintendent was John Covington, who previously served as the superintendent of Kansas City, Missouri Public Schools. The district's schools were organized into Innovation Zones, which were designed to provide Autonomy and Flexibility for teachers and principals, similar to models used in Denver Public Schools and Boston Public Schools. The Education Achievement Authority's structure and governance were influenced by the work of Michael Fullan, Andy Hargreaves, and Linda Lambert, who have researched School Leadership and Organizational Change. The district's approach was also shaped by the Common Core State Standards Initiative and the Next Generation Science Standards.

Criticisms and Controversies

The Education Achievement Authority faced significant criticism and controversy during its operation, including concerns about Lack of Transparency and Accountability, which were raised by organizations like American Civil Liberties Union and National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. The district was also criticized for its High Teacher Turnover Rate and Limited Community Engagement, which were exacerbated by the Detroit Financial Crisis and Michigan's Emergency Manager Law. Additionally, the district faced opposition from Teachers' Unions, including the Detroit Federation of Teachers and Michigan Education Association, which were concerned about the district's Charter School-like model and Privatization efforts. The Education Achievement Authority's controversies are also connected to the broader debates about Education Reform and Neoliberalism in the United States, which have been shaped by the work of Milton Friedman and Chester Finn.

Impact and Evaluation

The Education Achievement Authority's impact on student achievement was mixed, with some schools showing significant improvement and others struggling, according to evaluations by National Center for Education Statistics and Institute of Education Sciences. The district's approach was also evaluated by Researchers at University of Michigan and Michigan State University, who found that the district's Innovation Zones had a positive impact on student engagement and motivation, similar to findings from Chicago Public Schools and New York City Department of Education. However, the district's overall impact was limited by its Short Operational History and Lack of Resources, which were exacerbated by the Great Recession and Michigan's Budget Crisis. The Education Achievement Authority's legacy is also connected to the broader context of Education Policy in the United States, which has been shaped by Federal Legislation such as the No Child Left Behind Act and Every Student Succeeds Act.

Legacy and Dissolution

The Education Achievement Authority was dissolved in 2017, after the Michigan Legislature passed Public Act 108, which returned the district's schools to Detroit Public Schools Community District, under the leadership of Nikolai Vitti. The district's legacy is complex, with some arguing that it provided a necessary Innovation and Autonomy for teachers and principals, while others criticize its Lack of Accountability and Negative Impact on the broader Detroit Public Schools system, which has been shaped by the work of Deborah Meier and Diane Ravitch. The Education Achievement Authority's experience has also informed Education Reform efforts in other states, including California and New York, which have been influenced by the work of Linda Darling-Hammond and Pedro Noguera. The district's legacy is also connected to the broader debates about Education Policy and Social Justice in the United States, which have been shaped by the Civil Rights Movement and Brown v. Board of Education. Category:Defunct school districts in the United States