LANSING - Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today issued the following statement on the announcement of Michigan's high school graduation rates:
 
"To be competitive, Michigan needs the best educated workforce in the nation, and the fact that one in every four high school students is failing to graduate on time is totally unacceptable," Granholm said.  "That is why we have fought for programs like early college and small high schools that will help students, specifically minority and economically disadvantaged students where the problem is most severe." 
 
Governor Granholm fought for and won funding in the fiscal year 2009 budget to create the 21st Century Schools Fund to help school districts replace large, failing high schools that have low graduation rates, with small high schools that engage students in learning.  The first schools to be created through the 21 Century Schools Fund are expected to open next September.  They will be based on research-proven designs that emphasize strong personal relationships, rigorous academics, and relevance to the world of work. 

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