Building a New Student in Michigan

The effect of the new economy is the hardest on Michigan where earlier even a high school dropout could get a job in the car factory. Not anymore. State officials are desperately trying to put together a school program that will better equip Michigan.

Showing kids how book-learning relates to the real world is a central tenet of the new thinking. "The goal was to craft rigorous learning standards that would give students the knowledge and skills they need to succeed in college and in the 21st century workplace. The group recommended that every Michigan student, whether college-bound or not, be required to complete four years of English and math; three years of science and social studies; two years of foreign language; one year of phys ed; one in a course covering visual, performing or applied arts, as well as an online course—not necessarily for credit—offered by Michigan's web-based Virtual High School or another Internet instruction provider that meets state guidelines."