Revolutionary New Schools Prepare Kids for Success in 21st Century Economy .(MP3- 3MB)

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This fall, we’re beginning a great new chapter in Michigan’s economic future and for public education in Michigan. We’re opening five new schools called “early college high schools.” These new high schools are formed directly in partnership with local hospitals and health care providers. The hospitals help write the curriculum, and then they hire the kids once they graduate.

Early college high schools are something that students in my generation may never have imagined . . . but they make so much sense, especially for our kids who need to be prepared for this increasingly competitive global economy.

After five years of hands-on learning, students at these schools will graduate with a high school diploma AND an associates degree or equivalent certification. These graduates will have skills that allow them to immediately enter the workforce. And partnerships with health-care providers create a pipeline to good-paying jobs as surgical technicians, dental hygienists, nurses, or other
health-care careers.

Early college high schools are a new concept that came from recommendations by the Commission on Higher Education and Economic Development – led by Lieutenant Governor John Cherry – back in 2004. We secured funding for the first round of schools in last year’s budget, and in my State of the State address back in February, I pointed to them as a sign of great things to come. And let me tell you – these are a great sign.

Just this past week, I attended the opening of an early college high school in the Genesee Intermediate School District. Others are opening as well . . . in Detroit and in the Washtenaw, Clare-Gladwin, and Wayne Intermediate School Districts.

But early college high schools are just one element of this new chapter in education – we’re making sure that our schools serve ALL of our kids well. For the first time, our 2007 high school seniors had all taken a college entrance exam. And when they received their scores, young people who never thought they were college material suddenly realized they had a score that would get them into a university.

In June, for the first time, our graduating high school seniors were eligible for the $4,000 Michigan Promise scholarship. This money will pay for college or technical training that is critical for good-paying jobs. And this fall – for the first time – our entering high school freshman will benefit from rigorous curriculum requirements that ensure they are prepared to continue their education with college and technical certification. These are truly revolutionary steps!

Together, early college high schools and all the other new educational tools we’ve put in place will ensure that we have the nation’s best educated workforce. This is the way to win the battle for new jobs and a secure economic future.

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