February 7, 2006 – The 2006 Michigan Conference on Career Education continues today at the DeVos Place in Grand Rapids.  “Educators will share best practices and learn more about the proposed changes in high school requirements that will better prepare our students to succeed in a workplace that is quickly becoming more diverse and more global,” said Robert W. Swanson, acting director of the Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Growth (DLEG).  

The theme of this year’s conference is All Education Is Career Education: Bringing Academics and CTE Together.   More than 800 educators and school guidance counselors, employers, parents and students are attending the conference, which concludes today.

“Helping students acquire the necessary academic and technical skills while helping them understand the relevance of these skills to their future careers is the shared goal of all educators,” Swanson said.  “Higher education and economic growth go hand in hand.  By investing in educational changes now, we will reap the economic benefits of developing the highly skilled workforce that is so important to Michigan’s economic future.” 

Speakers include William H. Schmidt, Ph.D., University Distinguished Professor and co-chair of the Education Policy Center at Michigan State University; Michael P. Flanagan, state superintendent of public instruction; and Winston E. Scott, executive director of the Florida Space Authority, former NASA astronaut, and author of Reflections from Earth Orbit.

Four Excellence in Practice Awards were presented.  The award recognizes state-approved programs with curriculum that is aligned with and articulated to postsecondary education.  “Program winners have demonstrated that academic rigor and real-world relevance in career and technical education helps students achieve outstanding results in all academic coursework in preparing students for careers,” Swanson said.

The recipients of the 2006 Excellence in Practice Awards are:

Berrien County Professional Health Careers Academy.  Key partners are:  Lake Michigan College, Berrien County Intermediate School District, and Berrien County PA56 Consortium.

Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Program, Branch Area Careers Center, Branch Intermediate School District.  Key partners are:  Branch County Sheriff’s Department, Michigan State Police Post 59, and Branch County 3rd District Court.

Van Buren Technology Center Health Cluster, Van Buren Intermediate School District. Key partners are:  Lakeview Community Hospital and Kalamazoo Center for Medical Studies.

DLEG is investing in Michigan's future by helping to create the jobs of today and tomorrow, ensuring that our children and adults have the skills these jobs demand, making Michigan a better place to do business, and training and placing those who need jobs now.