August 11, 2006

Governor says education key to state's economic success

LANSING – In her weekly radio address, Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today said the promise of a higher education must become a reality for every child in Michigan if the state is to succeed in a global economy.  Granholm said she is committed to making education beyond high school more affordable and more accessible for every student.  The governor is fighting for a $4,000 scholarship that would be available for any student in Michigan who completes two years of education past high school – in a community college, a vocational training program, or a 4-year institution – regardless of their standardized test scores.
 
“Not that long ago, you could go from a Michigan high school to the assembly line the local plant and find a good paying manufacturing job,” Granholm said.  “But in today’s global economy, education beyond high school is the key to success, both for Michigan’s citizens and for Michigan’s economy.”
 
Granholm said that in order to ensure every child in Michigan can continue their education beyond high school, the following three things must happen:

• We must invest in our schools.  Despite record budget shortfalls over the last three years, Governor Granholm has pushed education funding to record levels.

• Every child must be prepared for higher education after high school.  Earlier this year, Granholm signed into law new high school curriculum standards that are among the toughest in the nation to ensure students are getting the math, science, and English skills they need to compete.  The Granholm administration also implemented rigorous new standards for grades K-8.

• We must ensure college is affordable for every child.  Governor Granholm has proposed the new Merit Award scholarship to guarantee that every student can earn a $4,000 scholarship.  The money can be used to pay for a two-year degree at a Michigan community college, which can lead to good-paying jobs in dozens of fields, be used at any Michigan college or university, or pay for career and technical training.

Next week, Granholm will send every school district in Michigan an analysis of the new Merit Award scholarship proposal to illustrate the positive difference the plan will make in the lives of Michigan’s children.  The governor continues to push the Legislature to pass her plan and provide every student with a $4,000 scholarship.

“When the school doors open this fall, every student who enters should know that we believe in their abilities and that we will do everything in our power to help them succeed,” Granholm said.

The Governor’s weekly radio address is released each Friday at 10:00 a.m. and may be heard on broadcast stations across the state through an affiliation with the Michigan Association of Broadcasters.  The address will also be available on the Governor’s website on Mondays as a podcast for general distribution to personal MP3 players and home computers.

Broadcasters Note: Governor Granholm’s radio address can be accessed through Sunday evening exclusively through the Members Only page of the Michigan Association of Broadcasters website.

Publishers Note: The text of today’s address is attached.