DETROIT, Mich. – (Michigan News Source) – Michael Van Beek has analyzed education plans since 2009 for the Mackinac Center for Public Policy.

He’s skeptical of Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan’s plans to revitalize the state’s education system. Duggan, who is running for governor as an Independent, has proposed adding $4.5 billion over five years to K-12 funding and firing principals and superintendents if their failing schools don’t turn it around. Principals would have three years before getting the axe and superintendents would have five years.

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“It’s $900 million more per year for five years. That’s a 4% increase to what the state already spends. Does he really think that will make all the difference?” Van Beek said in an email to Michigan News Source. “Also, his failing schools plan is not going to work. Who is going to take a job as a principal or superintendent knowing they could get canned in a couple years if test scores don’t improve? What teachers will want to work in those schools? Failing schools already have a hard enough time finding good employees, this will make it virtually impossible.”

Van Beek said Duggan’s plan has been tried before.

“None of these are new ideas. It’s the same stuff we’ve been trying to do for the last 50 years,” Van Beek said.

A decade ago, the state of Michigan had Top-to-Bottom rankings of schools and the bottom 5% were put on a watch list but none were closed due to academic performance. The state stopped its top-to-bottom ranking in 2015.

Van Beek said the key for Duggan’s plan will be what would be defined as a “failing” school. The state stopped giving out letter grades to its schools in 2023.