LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder is urging calm before the state releases a list of its lowest-performing public schools, saying there’s a “misperception” schools will be closed.
The Republican says Michigan is required to publish the bottom 5 percent list by next week. But he told The Associated Press on Friday it’s wrong to assume listed schools will receive closure notices.
His comments come two days after education leaders publicly raised concerns, saying closing schools wouldn’t improve student achievement. They say Snyder’s administration has privately told some school officials that closures could happen for 2017-18 if schools are listed for three straight years.
Snyder says closing schools is a legal option, but “that’s different than saying that’s what’s going to happen.” He says notifying schools now will hopefully lead to improvement.