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Michigan’s education system has been transformed by the rapid growth of charter schools and school choice since 1993. A New Type of Public School: Primary Source Interviews and Essays on Michigan Charter Schools traces the state’s journey from restrictive policies to a dynamic, often controversial marketplace for public education.
Drawing on original documents and the voices of policymakers, the chapters in this book reveal how political leaders and advocacy networks have reshaped governance, accountability, and equity. Michigan’s story offers vital insights into the national debate on charter schools and the future of public education.
A New Type of Public School demystifies the policymaking process and provides a vital lens on the complexities of educational reform. It is essential reading for educators, policymakers, and anyone invested in the future of public schooling.
Brian J. Boggs, Ph.D., J.D., is an Assistant Professor of Policy and Educational Leadership, University of Michigan-Dearborn, USA.
Donald Cooper is the director of civic initiatives at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation, USA and a senior fellow at the National Charter Schools Founders Library, USA.
Introduction: The Architecture of Reform: Michigan as a Case Study in Educational Governance
Part 1. The Speech that Started It All
Chapter 1. The Governor’s Speech
Part 2. Oral Histories
Chapter 2. Interview with Governor John Engler
Chapter 3. Interview with Dick Posthumus
Chapter 4. Interview with Richard McLellan
Chapter 5. Interview with Mary Kay Shields
Chapter 6. Interview with James (“Jim”) Barrett
Chapter 7. Interview with Dr.James (“Jim”) Goenner
Chapter 8. The J.C. Huizenga Oral History: Sustaining and Scaling the Charter Movement
Chapter 9. Interview with the Honorable Phil Pavlov
Part 3. Essays on Charter Schools
Chapter 10. Reflections on the Development of Charter Schools in Michigan
Chapter 11. Financial Transparency and Michigan Charter Schools
Part 4. Original Charter Schools Law
Chapter 12. PA Act No. 284 Public Acts of 1993
Chapter 13. PA Act No. 362 Public Acts of 1994
Conclusion: Legal Vindication and the Horizon of School Choice