MACKINAC ISLAND, Mich. (AP) - Education reform crusader Michelle Rhee says Michigan is making progress toward improving its schools but has more to do.
Rhee is the former chancellor of the Washington, D.C., public schools and founder of an advocacy group called StudentsFirst. She spoke Thursday during the annual Detroit Regional Chamber policy conference at Mackinac Island.
Rhee is a self-described lifelong Democrat who has clashed with teachers' unions, one of the party's key constituencies. During her speech, she called for honoring the teaching profession but demanding more accountability and rewarding the best teachers with more pay.
She also supports school voucher programs, which are unpopular with many Democrats who believe they drain money from public schools.
Rhee praised Michigan's Educational Achievement Authority, which was created to improve the state's lowest-performing schools.
Watch her speech here (scroll one hour in):
