A series of bills attempting to address Michigan's urban education crisis focus on turning around failing schools by increasing accountability measures and bringing in successful education management companies. This Detroit News opinion calls for a more comprehensive plan that will also lift the state cap on charter school growth.

In other headlines...

DC: A key component of the charter school philosophy is its ability to raise the bar for all public schools by increasing competition in the marketplace. Currently a third of DC public school children attend charter schools, and at the current growth rate 50% of the traditional district's students will choose to attend charter schools in the next ten years.  Time Magazine reporter Amanda Ripley writes this report on how reform-minded chancellor of schools Michelle Rhee is responding and her methods for improving traditional public schools here.

CA: Reforming school lunch has become the mission of Revolution Foods, a group that provides nutritional education and food choices to children and families through school lunch. Mercury News correspondent Sara Stroud reports that 75% of schools working with Revolution Foods are charter schools here.

MI: Detroit's surplus public school buildings will be closed and sold to help the district deal with a $400 million budget deficit. The Associated Press writes that some members of the school board are opposed to accepting any proposals from charter school operators here.