The Michigan Chamber of Commerce and the Michigan Business Leaders for Education Excellence salute State Superintendent of Public Instruction Mike Flanagan and the Michigan Board of Education for their leadership in adopting more meaningful Student Graduation Requirements. The decision to approve the recommendation provides a clear direction and, if properly implemented, an opportunity for all of Michigan's students to be successful beyond high school in whatever endeavor they pursue.

"Completion of the Michigan Merit Curriculum, that includes the Michigan Merit Core and the 21st Century Applied Learning Core, will restore value and meaning to the high school diploma," said MBLEE Executive Director Jim Sandy. "The Michigan Board of Education weighed the evidence and data and correctly concluded that too many students today are not completing a course of study that leads to post-secondary success and we agree," Sandy stated.

MBLEE member Mike Schmidt, from the Ford Motor Fund, served on the graduation requirement task force and added, "We believe that this action will send a strong message that the citizens of this state are serious about education and a course of study that is rigorous and relevant. Michigan's economic future depends on an innovative and well-educated work force," says Schmidt. "The adoption of the Michigan Merit Curriculum is a positive step toward that goal."

"We urge the Michigan Legislature to act quickly on these recommendations and enact legislation that will ensure that the next generation of Michigan students will be prepared to meet the challenges of the 21st century," said Jim Barrett, Chief Executive Officer of the Michigan Chamber of Commerce. "This course of study should be required of all schools," concludes Barrett.

MBLEE is an affiliate of the Michigan Chamber Foundation and is the only statewide business organization that focuses solely on education and workforce policy issues.

SOURCE: Michigan Chamber of Commerce

CONTACT: Jim Sandy of Michigan Business Leaders for Education
Excellence, +1-517-371-2100

Web site: http://www.michamber.com/