Business, education, and philanthropic organizations released a joint report Tuesday calling for improvements to the state’s k-12 education.
Kelly Chesney is with Business Leaders for Michigan which released the report. She said only one in four students graduate from Michigan high schools prepared for careers or college.
“We are struggling to find skilled and educated talent to fill the jobs we have. Job providers who can’t find the talent they need are sure to go elsewhere and we just don’t want that to happen.”
David Crim is with the Michigan Education Association. He said the fall in career and college readiness is a direct result of a disinvestment from schools.
“I don’t know that the system is failing I think policymakers have failed students and teachers and parents.”
Crim said Michigan schools are drastically underfunded and receive less funding than any other Great Lakes states.
But, Crim said, on issues like teacher training and more funding for classrooms the MEA agrees with the Business Leaders for Michigan report.
Chesney, with the Business Leaders for Michigan, said the state needs to be more transparent about how money is being spent.
“We just think there needs to be a little more research in that area so we can see how the money is being spent now. There may be some areas where we can find some efficiency so we can put more money towards the classroom.”
Chesney said their research showed five key areas for improvement; teacher preparedness, maintaining high standards, effective use of state dollars, uniform standards, and sustained effort.
You can read the full report here: