State School Reform/Redesign Officer (SRO): A Historical View

Below is a brief overview regarding the SRO, the recent appointment of a CEO in East Detroit Public Schools, and Public Act 192 of 2016.

Background on the State School Reform/Redesign Office

In 2010, the State School Reform/Redesign Office was created. At that time, the SRO reported directly to the State Board of Education.  The SRO’s primary objective is to turn around the lowest achieving 5% of priority schools and ensure that these schools follow effective reform/redesign plans to improve their performance.

In March of 2015, Governor Snyder issued Executive Order 2015-9, moving the SRO to the Department of Technology, Management and Budget (DTMB). Based on the Executive Order, the Director of the DTMB now oversees the SRO.

Recent Litigation

In June 2016, the SRO recommended the appointment of a chief executive officer to operate four priority schools for East Detroit Public Schools (EDPS). If the DTMB Director appoints a CEO to take control of multiple public schools under Section 1280c(7), the CEO must implement one of the four school intervention models for those schools. The CEO has all of the same powers and duties that the SRO has for public schools placed in the state school reform/redesign school district under Section 1280c(6).

Based on the SRO’s recommendation, the DTMB Director appointed Gary Jensen as the CEO for the four EDPS priority schools. EDPS sued and the court granted a temporary restraining order that blocked Jensen from serving as CEO.  A few weeks later, Jensen and EDPS entered into an agreement that allowed Jensen to work with the four priority schools on a limited basis. EDPS has also sued the SRO in the Court of Claims. That matter is still pending.

Legislation Impacting Priority Schools

Section 1280c of the Revised School Code provides the SRO with two options when a priority school fails to progress beyond its priority school status: (1) appoint a chief executive officer; or (2) issue an order placing the public school into the state school reform/redesign school district. At this point, the SRO has not yet placed any priority school in the state school reform/redesign school district.

Public Act 192 of 2016, effective June 21, 2016, amended the Revised School Code by adding to the SRO’s authority the ability to close public schools that have been among the lowest achieving 5% of all public schools in the state for the immediately preceding three school years and are operated by the school district formerly known as Detroit Public Schools.

PA 192 also provides that if the accountability system has been in effect for at least three school years and the school has been among the lowest achieving 5% of all public schools in the state for the immediately preceding three school years, then the SRO may close the priority school within DPS. Moreover, PA 192 places similar requirements on public school academies that educate students within the boundaries of the new DPS.

While Act 192 only applies to DPS or PSAs located within the boundaries of the City of Detroit, there have been indications that the SRO may attempt to broaden the application of Act 192 and school officials should be prepared to address any concerns raised by the SRO. In a recent article in Chalkbeat Detroit, SRO Assistant Director Dan LaDue warned that school closures should not be limited to the boundaries of the City of Detroit because it would not be fair to all schools and students. We will keep our clients apprised of new developments.