School group plans legal challenge to state rules

LANSING (AP) -- The Middle Cities Education Association says a coalition of school districts will seek a court order blocking implementation of the new Michigan Accountability and Accreditation System. The group said Monday that the Michigan Department of Education has disregarded the law by unilaterally implementing the system. The group says the system forces school districts "to divert time and resources away from the classroom in order to comply with an incomplete system." Department spokesman Martin Ackley says the new system will give the public better access to information on how individual districts are performing. He says the state Board of Education discusses the system Tuesday, after which it goes to the House and Senate education committees for review. Ackley says some opposition comes from local school officials opposed to "transparency and accountability." Published: Wed, Feb 9, 2011