September 03, 2010
Weekly radio address highlights changes that are helping students succeed
LANSING - Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today said that as children across the state head back to school on Tuesday, they face a brighter future because of the administration's work to improve education, which will help meet the goal of doubling the number of college graduates in Michigan.
"All children in Michigan need a world-class education that prepares them for success in college and in the workplace," Granholm said. "So in addition to diversifying our economy and creating jobs, education has been a top priority of mine. I've fought for stronger curriculum, higher standards, and tougher graduation requirements. And I'm proud to say student achievement is rising and college enrollment is up."
Granholm noted that math and reading scores have risen to record levels for students in grades 3 through 8. To better assess students' academic progress and help them prepare for success in college, every high school junior must take the American College Test (ACT), and each year since 2008, ACT scores have increased. Four years ago, the governor proposed and signed into law a rigorous curriculum to ensure that high school graduates are prepared for the demands of college and the workplace. The class of 2011 will be the first to have completed this tougher curriculum.
The governor noted more students are taking advanced placement classes for college - up nearly 70 percent since 2002 with enrollment in both community colleges and state universities up as well.
And on September 7, the Michigan College Access Portal - a free Web-based resource that will help students and their families plan for college - will be live on the internet Wednesday, September 7 at www.michigancap.org
Granholm said much of what the administration has done to improve education in Michigan directly results from a report issued six years ago by the bipartisan Commission on Higher Education and Economic Growth. That commission, chaired by Lt. Governor John Cherry, provided a road map to making fundamental changes in our education system in Michigan.
"When students return to our public schools next week, they'll be learning from a curriculum designed to help them succeed in college and in a global economy," Granholm added. Our commitment to higher education standards will pay even greater dividends in the future. But the results we've already seen indicate education in Michigan is on the right track, and that is good news for everyone."
The governor's weekly radio address is released each Friday and may be heard on broadcast stations across the state. The address is available for download on the governor's Web site at www.michigan.gov/gov together with a clip of the quote above. The radio address also is available as a podcast on the Web site as well as on iTunes and via RSS feed for general distribution to personal MP3 players and home computers. Links to the audio files and text of today's address follow.
Governor Jennifer M. Granholm
Radio Address - Supreme Court
Full: http://www.michigan.gov/documents/gov/Gov265Full_331866_7.mp3
Edited: http://www.michigan.gov/documents/gov/Gov265Edit_331867_7.mp3
Quote: http://www.michigan.gov/documents/gov/Gov265Quote_331868_7.mp3
Hello, this is Governor Jennifer Granholm.
On Tuesday, children across the state head back to school and toward a brighter future.
All children in Michigan need a world-class education that prepares them for success in college and in the workplace. So in addition to diversifying our economy and creating jobs, education has been a top priority of mine. I've fought for stronger curriculum, higher standards and tougher graduation requirements. And I'm proud to say student achievement is rising and college enrollment is up.
We created higher standards for kids in our elementary and middle schools - every grade; and as a result, math and reading scores have risen to record levels for students in grades 3 through 8.
And to better assess students' academic progress and help them prepare for success in college, we required that every high school junior, beginning with the class of 2008, take the American College Test (ACT). And each year since 2008, ACT scores have increased.
Four years ago, we created a rigorous curriculum that'll ensure that all our high school graduates are prepared for the demands of college and the workplace. When our high school seniors graduate in June, they'll be the first to have completed this tougher curriculum.
When we implemented the more rigorous curriculum, many people feared that the state's high school dropout rate would increase. But just the opposite has happened. Since 2007, the dropout rate has decreased by almost four percentage points.
Much of what we've done to improve education in Michigan directly results from a report issued six years ago by the bipartisan Commission on Higher Education and Economic Growth. That commission, chaired by Lt. Governor John Cherry, provided a road map to making fundamental changes in our education system in Michigan.
We're making progress toward one of our most important education goals, which is doubling the number of college graduates in Michigan.
More students are taking advanced placement classes for college - up nearly 70 percent since 2002. Enrollment in both community colleges and state universities has jumped substantially as well.
And on September 7, the Michigan College Access Portal is going live. This is a free Web-based resource that will help students and their families plan for college. The website is www.michigancap.org, and, again, it goes live September 7.
When students return to our public schools next week, they'll be learning from a curriculum designed to help them succeed in college and in a global economy. Our commitment to higher education standards will pay even greater dividends in the future. But the results we've already seen indicate education in Michigan is on the right track, and that is good news for everyone.
Thank you for listening.
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