Bookmark and Share

Most Michigan teachers get favorable ratings

Nov 29th, 2012 - State News

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — New state data show that 97 percent of the state's 96,000 teachers were rated effective or highly effective during the 2011-12 school year.

The Detroit Free Press reports Thursday that the numbers are from the first year districts had to assign one of four ratings to teachers.

The ratings are: Highly effective, effective, minimally effective or ineffective.

Some of the state's worst-performing schools gave favorable ratings to teachers. The newspaper says 48 of 146 of the state's schools that are ranked in the bottom 5 percent academically rated all of their teachers in the top two categories. Several said all of their teachers were highly effective.

State data also show, however, that more teachers in those so-called priority schools were rated in the bottom categories than other schools.

Local News

Local News RSS

Grand Rapids copter patrols halt

— State police say they're halting helicopter patrols over Grand Rapids after getting multiple noise complaints.

Lt. Chris McIntire tells MLive.com that the main reason is the greater need in oth...

Grand Rapids helicopter patrols prompt complaints

— State police helicopter patrols over Grand Rapids as part of an effort to curb violent crime in the city and surrounding communities are prompting complaints from area residents.

Noise from the f...

Read More Local News

State News

State News RSS

Gov. Snyder, GOP lawmakers agree to budget targets

Gov. Rick Snyder and leaders of the GOP majority in the Legislature have reached a budget agreement for next fiscal year that puts Michigan's unexpected surplus toward funding roads and K-12 educatio...

Palisades water tank repairs take to early summer

— It could be early summer before repairs are completed at a nuclear power plant in Michigan that has been idled nine times since 2011.

Operators of the idled Palisades Nuclear Power Plant in so...

Read More State News

National News

National News RSS

Rain making rescue efforts harder in Moore, Okla.

Rescue workers plan to keep searching today in an effort to make sure they haven't missed any Oklahoma tornado victims. Moore Fire chief Gary Bird says he is confident there are no more bodies or sur...

Twister-devastated residents bracing for many more hours of searches

— It's been a long night in the tornado-blasted suburbs of Oklahoma City and residents are bracing for a long day as well, digging through the rubble and hoping not to add to a death toll that's at ...

Read More National News

International News

International News RSS

Riots in Stockholm spread to more suburbs

— Groups of youth have smashed shop windows, set cars ablaze and burnt down a cultural center as the riots that started in one Stockholm suburb after a fatal police shooting spread to other low-inc...

More attacks in Iraq; 7 killed

— Officials say new attacks in Iraq have killed seven people and wounded dozens.

Police say a suicide blast at a checkpoint and militants who opened fire at Iraqi troops have killed three soldier...

Read More International News

Sports News

Sports News RSS

Tigers topple Indians 5-1

— Miguel Cabrera hit a two-run homer and Max Scherzer retired 22 straight batters after the first inning, leading the Detroit Tigers to a 5-1 win over Cleveland on Tuesday night to stop the Indians'...

Red Wings top Blackhawks 3-1, take 2-1 series lead

— Gustav Nyquist and Drew Miller scored 31 seconds apart midway through the second period and Pavel Datsyuk restored a two-goal lead in the third to help the Detroit Red Wings beat the Chicago Black...

Read More Sports News

Health News

Health News RSS

FDA will investigate added caffeine in foods

— Looking for a new way to get that jolt of caffeine energy? Food companies are betting snacks like potato chips, jelly beans and gum with a caffeinated kick could be just the answer.

The Food an...

New Diabetes Drug Treats Disease Differently

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Food and Drug Administration says it has approved a first-of-a-kind diabetes drug from Johnson & Johnson that uses a new method to lower blood sugar.

The agency cleared J&J'...

Read More Health News