Source:
Detroit NewsLast Updated: May 17. 2010 7:12AM
Metro Detroit school districts buy 'best' status
Paid-programming TV tributes cost $25,000; educational criteria not a factor
Mike Wilkinson and Shawn D. Lewis / The Detroit News
A number of Metro school districts are pointing with pride to their designation as some of the "Best Schools in Michigan," complete with video tributes that have aired on WXYZ-TV, Channel 7.
The Fraser, Lake Shore, Berkley, South Lake and Oxford districts have all been featured, as have the Southgate, Wayne-Westland and Novi schools.
But most who have watched the show -- or have seen the "Best Schools" designation on the districts' websites -- probably don't know this: The districts did not make the cut because of test scores or graduation rates but instead because they paid a marketing firm $25,000.
The shows, arranged by Sussman Sikes & Associates, were paid programming. Think ShamWow for the classroom.
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http://www.detnews.com/article/20100517/METRO/5170337/Metro-Detroit-school-districts-buy--best--status