Law Students Teach Community About Education, Law, and Detroit

On April 22 MSU Law students hosted a conference to discuss the pressing education law issues impacting Detroit. Students from Associate Dean Kristi Bowman's Education Law class organized the entire conference as part of their coursework. 

The one-day conference provided a forum for researchers from various disciplines, legislators, Detroit educators, and others to explore how legal reform can impact Detroit Public Schools. The conference's four panels addressed Detroit public schools' demographics, fiscal, governance, and achievement crisis; explored the current state of Detroit's Emergency Fund and structural deficit; and considered the merits of different systematic reform efforts. At the time of the conference, legislation to reform Detroit’s school system was pending in the legislature; about two months later, the state House's version of the reform proposals became law.

MSU Law students moderated each panel discussion. "Some of the law students who enrolled in this course had a background as teachers, and others had family members and friends who are educators," said Bowman. "This seminar was a wonderful way to combine their professional backgrounds and knowledge gained outside of law school with their legal education." 

Hilary Barnard, ’17, said, “As future lawyers and policy makers, we set up this conference to start a conversation with the community and prevent future breakdowns of school governance.”

The event was well-attended and live-streamed for those who couldn't make the trip to MSU Law.

Chad Duschinsky, ’17, said, “Our goal was to highlight how these issues are especially pertinent to the Detroit community right now, with the financial crisis, troubled infrastructure, and charter school debate. We were looking for different perspectives, from all parties involved, including the education community, politicians, lawyers, and parents.”

“It was no small feat to plan an entire conference in one semester and facilitate panel discussions about complex and contentious issues—I was very proud of what my students accomplished,” said Bowman. 

The Conference was hosted by Michigan State University College of Law’s Spring 2016 Education Law Seminar class and sponsored by MSU College of Law, MSU Law's Lori E. Talsky Center for Human Rights of Women & Children, MSU Institute of Public Policy & Social Research, and MSU Center for Local Government Finance & Policy.