Michigan eases financial oversight of Detroit school district

The Michigan Department of Education is relaxing its oversight of finances in the Detroit school district. The Detroit Free Press says the state attributes the change to five years of systemic improvements in the district's administrative and financial procedures. The state is removing the school system from “high risk” status. That means the district no longer will be required to bid any purchase or service agreements exceeding $25,000 or have its school improvement plans approved by state education officials.