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May 08, 2006 This session will guide a data-based exploration of Michigan's school district history: how did we arrive at the current 700+ districts? At different times during that history, various rationales justified first an expansion of districts, then a radical consolidation, eventually a perceived minimum-feasible "brake" on the consolidation movement, and more recently an expansion as charter schools overlaid non-geographic districts on top of plat-based ones. In addition, several recent case studies will give insight about local efforts to consolidate that prevailed and others that failed. By identifying the advantages that pushed for change in each case, we will assemble a comprehensive list of pro's and con's for creating larger and smaller districts. Given changes in conditions during the past ten years, we'll also identify creative alternatives to consolidation that districts are using to obtain some of the advantages without accruing the disadvantages of formal status change. And finally, we propose a simulation in which participants, as voters in adjoining districts, will debate and negotiate a proposal to change the size and structure of their district. |
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Research Questions:
Agenda: Why does Michigan have over 700 districts? Should it?
Resource Persons:
Resource Materials:
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