Michigan’s floundering education system has left its children far behind

From early literacy to middle-school math, Michigan students are not keeping up with their peers in top-performing states.

There’s no way around it: Michigan’s education system is floundering.

From early literacy to middle-school math, Michigan students are not keeping up with their peers in top-performing states.

Big changes are needed if Michigan wants to turn itself around, experts say.

“Michigan, if it thinks the status quo is going to be fine, we’ll have a race to the bottom, and we’re almost there right now,” said Grand Valley State University President Thomas Haas, who chaired Gov. Rick Snyder’s 21st Century Education Commission, a panel that developed recommendations to improve Michigan’s education system.

Perhaps no issue is more important for Michigan’s future: In a global economy, a well-educated workforce is critical – and an area where Michigan lags behind.

It starts with reaching and educating Michigan school children even earlier than kindergarten. That means providing more families with affordable access to high-quality early childhood education and funding K-12 schools based on student need, experts say.

It also means ensuring all children have access to top-notch teachers and boosting the number of residents with college degrees or certificates in areas such as the skilled trades.

Source: Michigan’s floundering education system has left its children far behind | MLive.com