Townsend, Yonker Help Parents Make Informed School Choices

State Representatives Jim Townsend (D-Royal Oak) and Ken Yonker (R-Caledonia) introduced a two-bill package today that would arm parents with information to help them make informed education decisions for their children. House Bill 5128 would require all schools to release teacher turnover data on a calendar and academic year basis, while HB 5129 would require all schools to report the student-to-staffing ratio for school teachers, school nurses, school counselors, school psychologists and school social workers.

“Parents have an increasing number of options when it comes to providing their kids with the best education possible,” Townsend said. “Faced with so many possibilities, it can be hard to make a good choice. By giving them apples-to-apples comparisons, parents can evaluate the schools in their area and decide which would be the best fit for their children.”

In recent years, the number of charter schools in Michigan has grown, and two years ago, the Legislature allowed the option of online “cyber schools.” However, without data on important facets of education such as teacher-to-student ratios and teacher turnover, it can be difficult for parents to evaluate all of their options. These bills would empower parents by providing them with solid, factual information.

“Parents are the ones who know their children best,” Yonker said, “and we want to make sure they are able to make the most informed decision they can regarding something as important as their child's education.”