Granholm Says Children Heading Back to School Benefiting from Stronger Curriculum, Higher Standards

Statement

Hello, this is Governor Jennifer Granholm.

On Tuesday, children across the state head back to school and toward a brighter future.

All children in Michigan need a world-class education that prepares them for success in college and in the workplace. So in addition to diversifying our economy and creating jobs, education has been a top priority of mine. I've fought for stronger curriculum, higher standards and tougher graduation requirements. And I'm proud to say student achievement is rising and college enrollment is up.

We created higher standards for kids in our elementary and middle schools - every grade; and as a result, math and reading scores have risen to record levels for students in grades 3 through 8.

And to better assess students' academic progress and help them prepare for success in college, we required that every high school junior, beginning with the class of 2008, take the American College Test (ACT). And each year since 2008, ACT scores have increased.

Four years ago, we created a rigorous curriculum that'll ensure that all our high school graduates are prepared for the demands of college and the workplace. When our high school seniors graduate in June, they'll be the first to have completed this tougher curriculum.

When we implemented the more rigorous curriculum, many people feared that the state's high school dropout rate would increase. But just the opposite has happened. Since 2007, the dropout rate has decreased by almost four percentage points.

Much of what we've done to improve education in Michigan directly results from a report issued six years ago by the bipartisan Commission on Higher Education and Economic Growth. That commission, chaired by Lt. Governor John Cherry, provided a road map to making fundamental changes in our education system in Michigan.

We're making progress toward one of our most important education goals, which is doubling the number of college graduates in Michigan.

More students are taking advanced placement classes for college - up nearly 70 percent since 2002. Enrollment in both community colleges and state universities has jumped substantially as well.

And on September 7, the Michigan College Access Portal is going live. This is a free Web-based resource that will help students and their families plan for college. The website is www.michigancap.org, and, again, it goes live September 7.

When students return to our public schools next week, they'll be learning from a curriculum designed to help them succeed in college and in a global economy. Our commitment to higher education standards will pay even greater dividends in the future. But the results we've already seen indicate education in Michigan is on the right track, and that is good news for everyone.

Thank you for listening.

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