Education

stack of three books on a desk with a red apple on top and a, b, c block cubes to the side

Education

For small businesses to thrive now and in the future, Michigan’s education system must prepare students for today and tomorrow’s economy. The education we provide should be focused on skills needed to compete in today’s economy while also providing a quality and well-rounded education.

Michigan’s employers face unprecedented talent shortages, and yet our talent gap continues to widen. Currently Michigan produces only one graduate for every five openings requiring a credential. To help address this problem, lawmakers should promote programs that award employers for assisting in training and developing newly hired employees, and programs that seek to advance the state’s education system.

Education Policy Framework

Michigan’s education system ranks near the bottom of the county in various key national metrics despite increasing investments into the current system. It is clear to industry experts that to ensure the success of Michigan’s students, the state must pursue major educational reform. The education we provide should be focused on skills needed to compete in today’s economy while also providing a quality and well-rounded education.

SBAM supports the Launch Michigan educational reform framework. The Launch Michigan framework recommends the following:

Strong Foundation

Michigan must adopt and adequately support a new funding system that provides a strong foundation for all and focuses on providing equitable resources to students with the greatest needs, including those in poverty, English language learners, and those in special education.

College & Career Readiness

Michigan must adopt a clear and rigorous college and career readiness standard, aligned to international benchmarks, to establish a foundation that is to be part of each student’s graduation requirements.

Greater Accountability

Changes to the Michigan Department of Education governance and functions must be made to help ensure greater accountability for Michigan’s educational performance, including having the Governor appoint the State Superintendent. Currently the State Board of Education (who are nominated by political parties) appoint the State Superintendent.

Transparency

Michigan must adopt a single, summative, transparent, and easy-to-understand accountability tool and dashboard, focused on student performance and growth, that companies with federal laws and lets educations and families understand how their school is performing and what assistance will be provided if it is struggling.