Education Policy in Review
We are pleased to announce a series of publications for educators and policy makers in the state of Michigan who are interested in bringing current research to bear on recent, relevant policy conversations. In Michigan as in other places, there is both a great deal of research being conducted and a number of important policy decisions being made at any given time. We view the two as complementary enterprises that when utilized effectively and coherently, can result in better policy, more local impact and improvements in the educational outcomes for Michigan citizens.
Who are we?
Education Policy In Review is a publication created, run and organized by advanced graduate students at the University of Michigan who are interested in the connection between education research and state and local policy. The publications are written by doctoral students who have expertise in the areas for which the briefs are written, and are edited by a peer elected set of editors. In addition, University of Michigan faculty and senior policy makers serve as an advisory board.
This effort began as an outgrowth of work on behalf of the Lt. Governor’s Commission on Higher Education and Economic Growth in 2004. We saw a need to bring research to bear on a timely policy conversation and we came to believe very strongly that policy outcomes are enhanced when they are based on strong research and analyses.
What can we provide?
Researchers at the University of Michigan are in the unique position of caring deeply about the field of education, being immersed in the most up to date and relevant research, while maintaining a stance that is more objective, though certainly not completely neutral. We can provide a balanced treatment of some of the more important issues facing policy makers in the state with respect to education. In addition, we are able to access and infuse information about promising practices from other states and regions.
What can you expect?
We will publish briefs on a quarterly basis with policy makers and educators in the state of Michigan as our primary audience. The briefs are typically 8-10 pages in length and address some issue that the state is dealing with or could be in the near future. Our initial brief was released in electronic form on the one year anniversary of the Lt. Governor’s Commission and it summarized some of the lessons learned from the current commission situated both in the context of prior Michigan commissions on higher education and of other states that have recently convened commissions. A hard copy of that brief is included here as well. The most recent issue addresses the development of an individual unit record data system for higher education in Michigan that could be effectively linked to both K-12 information and information following students into the workforce. There are a number of important issues on both sides of the data system issue, but this brief addresses one element largely missing from the discussion; how does the information collected by the state benefit the people who provide it? E-mail and web links will be the primary modes of dissemination. However, hard copies like those included in this package are available upon request.
Finally, we believe that a publication like this should reflect a conversation among policy makers and researchers. With that in mind, we invite comments and suggestions addressing both the issues we have addressed and those you think we should. We have a responsibility as researchers to bring the best available data to the policy conversation but we recognize that in order to be relevant we must also know the issues that are being faced in policy conversations. You can send your thoughts and suggestions to ndaunba@umich.edu.
The state of Michigan has embarked upon an important series of conversations regarding education and its role in the lives of its residents. We believe this publication could serve as a means by which to bring research and policy together in a way that improves both what we do and how we do it.
Thanks for your interest, we look forward to your comments.
Take care and we look forward to future exchanges!
Sincerely,
Nathan Daun-Barnett Britany Affolter-Caine
Co-Editors for Education Policy In Review