Yesterday, the ACLU of Michigan sent Education Achievement Authority Chancellor John Covington a letter asking about this job posting (archived HERE.) The job posting is for preschool teachers at Law, Bethune, and Brenda Scott elementary schools, all part of the EAA. The job description says that the, “teachers are responsible for implementing a developmentally appropriate early childhood education curriculum in […]

Today’s interview is with Karyn Brooks, a former teacher at the Mary McLeod Bethune Elementary-Middle School, or “Bethune” as everyone generally calls it. Karyn is unique among the teachers with whom I have spoken because she had the good sense to get out of the EAA before the end of its first calendar year of existence. She took a more […]

John Dingell with Mark Schauer, Senator Carl Levin, and Congressman John Conyers, photo by Anne C. Savage, special to Eclectablog Here are the Congressman’s remarks this afternoon announcing his retirement at the end of his current term (as prepared for delivery): Greetings to all guests, those at the head table, distinguished guests, elected officials and friends. What a great thing […]

The ban on same-sex marriage in Michigan can tear families apart [left to right: April, Nolan, Jacob, Jayne, and Ryanne] Tomorrow the trial of April DeBoer vs. Rick Sndyer begins. This trial has implications not on for our state but for the entire country. Although it started as a suit to give same-sex parents the same sorts of adoption rights […]

Lawmaker, environmentalist, single-payer healthcare advocate, statesman, friend Eclectablog (Chris Savage) and Dean of the House Congressman John Dingell Last summer John Dingell became the longest serving member of Congress, breaking a record formerly held by Senator Robert Byrd. During his 58 years in Congress, John Dingell has been a champion of nearly every single progressive cause you could name. Every […]

On Saturday night this past weekend, the heroes who are Equality Michigan had their annual fundraising dinner and awards banquet. Although a couple of hundred people attended, it was a surprisingly intimate event on the top floor of the Motor City Casino in Detroit. With the dramatic Detroit skyline dominating the room, LGBT activists and allies gathered to celebrate their […]

From my pals at the Ann Arbor Democratic Party: Sunday, March 2, 2014 from 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM at Rush Street Lounge on 314 South Main Street, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48104, next to The Ark, between Liberty Ave. and William Street. Please join us for an evening fun featuring great hors d’oeuvres donated from local restaurants (lots of vegetarian […]

On Wednesday of this past week, news broke that State Superintendent Mike Flanagan was ending a 15-year exclusivity contract with the Governor Rick Snyder’s failed experiment with Detroit children known as the Education Achievement Authority. The contract specified that the State School Reform/Redesign District (SSRRD) would only place “low performing” schools in the EAA. By ending that part of the […]

This afternoon the 1,300-member Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti Regional Chamber issued the following statement regarding Governor Rick Snyder’s failed education experiment with Detroit students known as the Education Achievement Authority: The A2Y Chamber’s Executive Board held a deliberation on HB 4369, legislation to expand the Education Achievement Authority (EAA). The A2Y Chamber encourages the Michigan Legislature to reject the current House version […]

Yesterday nearly 50 intrepid souls braved the “raining Slurpees” weather to attend a rally on the campus of Eastern Michigan University. They were there to protest EMU’s partnership with Governor Snyder’s failed education experiment with Detroit students – the Education Achievement Authority. The event was organized by the campus group Students for an Ethical and Participatory Education (SEPE) and was […]

Just a few odds and ends from the world of the Education Achievement Authority, Gov. Rick Snyder’s failed education experiment with Detroit students. First, although a vote had been predicted yesterday, various reporting suggests that Republicans in the House and Senate are still struggling to come to an agreement on what the expansion of the EAA should look like. Some […]