November 6, 2007

LANSING - Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today joined leaders from the Henry Ford Community College, Henry Ford Health System and the Dearborn Public Schools in a ribbon cutting ceremony of the new Henry Ford Early College high school.  The school is one of five across the state opened this fall as a result of Governor Granholm's revolutionary proposal and bills she signed into law in 2006.

"Early college high schools combine high school education with college-level coursework to allow students to enter good-paying jobs immediately after graduation," Granholm said.  "This revolutionary approach to high school will help our kids compete and succeed in the 21st century economy."

The governor fought for the initial funding to allow for the opening of early college high schools, all of which focus on preparing students for jobs in the health care industry.  The schools are created through partnerships involving school districts and intermediate school districts, higher education institutions and major health care providers.  Henry Ford Early College high school students are exposed to a focused curriculum which meets the State of Michigan mandated requirements of high school graduation as well as the associate degree requirements of the Henry Ford Community College. These early college high schools prepare young people to enter jobs in high-growth areas of the economy by combining high school and college-level courses into a five year program.

In addition to the Wayne County RESA, the Washtenaw, Genesee, and Clare-Gladwin intermediate school districts as well as the Detroit Public Schools have opened early college high schools this fall.  The governor today said she continues to push for funding to create similar schools across the state.

"When young people drop out of school or end their education with only a high school diploma, they are falling behind in this competitive economy," Granholm said. "Innovations like early college high schools can help keep students engaged in school and help us transform Michigan's economy."

Developing early college high schools was a part of the final recommendations of the Commission on Higher Education and Economic Development led by Lieutenant Governor John D. Cherry, Jr. in 2004.  Governor Granholm won funding for the first group of early college high schools in her 2006-2007 budget, and she highlighted the early college high schools concept in her 2007 State of the State address.

In addition to early college high schools, Granholm has led a number of efforts to make college and technical training more accessible to Michigan students and workers.  The Michigan Promise scholarship provides every student with the opportunity to earn $4,000 towards a college degree or technical certification.  Rigorous curriculum standards and a required college preparatory test are ensuring that every student is prepared to continue education beyond high school.

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