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strictions on who could apply
for and issue charters. In addi-
tion, the bills still must go be-
fore a conference committee to
decide on a final draft.
"Why the governor viewed
this vote as a victory Pll never
know. There wasn't much left.
The language, in terms of al-
lowing just anyone to begin a
charter school, has been
banned. A lot of concerns many
of us had have been taken care
of. I still believe this is the
wrong way to go, though," Rep.
Berman said. "Even if we al-
lowed anyone and his brother
to open a charter school and
had totally open schools of
choice programs, we're talking
about a system which might af-
fect 10 percent of the children.
What about the other 90 per-
cent who cannot take advan-
tage of such options or do not
choose to?"
Rep. Berman suggested fo-
cusing on magnet schools — in-
stitutions within a district
which, in addition to giving an
education, specialize in specif-
ic areas like science or art, and
are open to all students with-
in the district.
State Sen. David Honigman
voted for the Senate's bill, which
is not as restrictive as the
House's version.
The House's version makes
charter schools or academies
subject to all school codes. The
Senate's does not. The Senate
bill allows the State Board of
Education and the State
Chartering Authority to grant
charters. The House's does not.
It is not clear in the Senate's
version whether a religious in-
stitution could charter a school
if it agreed to teach only secu-
lar studies.
"I don't see the American
Jewish Congress running a
school without teaching religion
as a problem," Sen. Honigman
said.
He added that the charter
school bill imposes even greater
separations of church and state
than the Michigan constitution
— a good sign for those con-
cerned about the presence of the
religious right in the schools.
"In America, we've got a
three-tier system of education.
The top third are as good as
anyone. The middle third are
OK. The bottom third —
Detroit, Pontiac, Flint — we are
failing. A lot of the reform we're
discussing is based in the big,
urban centers," Sen. Honigman
said. 'In Oakland County, we're
doing an excellent job. In
Detroit, it's a tragedy. Millions
of children's lives are being lost.
The most important rationale
for charters is to give all chil-
dren the same choices and op-
portunities that the affluent
have.
"We've been trying to change
the system for years. People

say, 'Make every school in
Detroit a good school.' It's not
possible. We've got to change
the rules."
Assistant Superintendent of
Oakland Schools Rick
Simonson agrees with Mr.
Honigman that his district is
doing a good job. But he be-
lieves the community has got-
ten too wrapped up in issues of
choice and school codes rather
than looking at the real picture.
"All this talk, it's not going to
affect Oakland County," Mr.
Simonson said. "There already
is choice across our districts.
Call any administrator."
Mr. Simonson added that in
Minnesota, which for five years
has allowed charter schools and
schools of choice, 1 percent of
parents take advantage of the
options. Minnesota also pro-
vides for transportation; to date,
neither version of the Michigan
bills does the same.
`The cash piece of this story
is the most important. Will the
funds be restored?" Mr.
Simonson said.
Earlier this year,
prop-
erty taxes were cut by the
Legislature and approved by
the governor. The $6.5 billion
lost to schools can
. be made up
from a variety of other taxes.
However, as of Wednesday
morning, neither the House nor
Senate had completed a bill
which addressed the financial
aspect of school reform.

The bills answer
some of the Jewish
groups' concerns.

Mr. Simonson anticipated a
school aid bill to reach the
House and Senate floors by the
end of this week.
"From what I've heard, the
bill should hold districts at
the level they're at. We wouldn't
have a lot of room to grow,
but we couldn't be cut either.
Compared to the Robin Hood
syndrome of the past, I'm
encouraged," Mr. Simonson
said.
Mr. Simonson indicated both
the House and Senate are
working toward a foundation
grant system. A minimum
funding per student is agreed
upon. The state will bring up
those schools which are not yet
meeting the number. Schools
which exceed the foundation
grant spending per student, like
many in Oakland County, will
have to levy mills to make up
the difference.
Other issues still being
debated in the House and
Senate include school codes —
standardized testing, gradua-
tion requirements — for
charter schools; and school
choice — opening districts to
all students. ❑