Clear the Path

Michigan’s communities are currently engaged in extensive and intensive economic development efforts. Whether at the municipal or county level, there is almost universal recognition that communities must take their economic destinies in their own hands. Business decision makers routinely cite the availability of a skilled workforce as the chief determinant of investment decisions, and communities whose residents have higher levels of education also have higher levels of economic growth. Yet, few Michigan communities have focused on this critical link between increased education attainment and economic development goals. To thrive economically, communities across Michigan must see the issue of increasing educational attainment as a responsibility that all stakeholders must share.

RECOMMENDATION

Create Community Compacts for Educational Attainment

Michigan local government leaders (from mayors to county commissioners) must join with business, labor, and education leaders to organize “community compacts” that increase local postsecondary participation rates by 5 percent each year for the next ten years. Each community should establish baselines for postsecondary participation and set targets for annual improvement, focusing efforts on students who are unlikely to attend college. As part of these local compacts, public and private universities, colleges, community colleges, and postsecondary training institutions should create partnerships with local school districts and high schools with low rates of students going on to college.

(Preparation Work Group rec. 3)

News

• College Tuition Promised to Kalamazoo Public Schools Grad, The Associated Press State & Local Wire (November 10, 2005)
• Kalamazoo Promise Boosts Economy, by Kate Mueller, The North Wind via University Wire (March 23, 2006)

Web Links

• Freshman Institute, St. Clair County Community College
• Kalamazoo Promise
• GEAR UP Michigan