The Michigan Department of Education will end its exclusive contract with the Education Achievement Authority to oversee some of the state's lowest-performing schools.
State Superintendent Mike Flanagan has sent a letter to the EAA notifying it that the contract will be terminated a year from now.
The MDE says it still intends to use the EAA to turn around struggling schools. It says ending the contract will simply open up more options to other entities that can oversee the schools.
The EAA currently runs 15 schools in Detroit.
Martin Ackley is a spokesperson for the Michigan Department of Education.
"There are situations where a struggling school may be better served by a neighboring school district or the local intermediate school district as opposed to the EAA."
Ackley says the state still intends to use the EAA to help oversee struggling schools. He says ending the contract will simply give state education officials more options.
"Now, this is in no way a statement or an indication of alack of confidence in the EAA or its academic strategies. This is just an action that needed to be taken in order to provide flexibility and to provide options other than the EAA in which to place these most struggling schools."
Critics of the EAA say it's struggling with declining enrollment, finances, and school safety. Lawmakers are considering legislation that would bolster the authority and allow it to expand it statewide.
