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Michigan State of the State Address - Part II - 2002
01/24/2002
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The Following is Part II of Michgian Gov. John Engler's 2002 State of the State Address.
Tonight, I have spoken about some opportunities that will transform Michigan. Another opportunity was analyzed in a study by the respected technology experts at Gartner Consulting. The study documents Michigan's need for a high speed infrastructure. The ability to move data, voice, and video at high speed along the information highway is not only essential to business and education today; it will lead to growth and investment tomorrow. Gartner estimates that a significantly greater deployment of broadband could mean a half million new jobs over baseline projections in the next decade, and an increase in state economic output by half a trillion dollars. Do we seriously want to turn our back on 500,000 new jobs? Or 250,000? Or even 100,000? I want those jobs, and I want those jobs in Michigan.
More jobs and higher incomes aren't the only benefits. For many families, there just isn't enough time in the day. For some, high speed connections may be an answer. Moms or dads able to work at home would have more time with their children. People with illnesses could get a second opinion, a third opinion. Students could access the libraries of the world without ever leaving home. Citizens could access improved government services. Grandparents could stay in touch with their grandkids.
So with all the benefits, what's the problem? Some say, "Do nothing - there's no need; we've already solved the problem." Others say, "Wait - eventually the market will handle it." And a few say, "It's not my problem - if you don't like it, move." Well, in the 1970s and '80s, we tried those approaches on other issues. Sometimes we put off reform and did nothing. Sometimes we refused to change and simply waited. It turned out the problems were our problems. They didn't go away - but the jobs went away, and right behind them, our sons and daughters.
In the '90s, Michigan chose to lead; Michigan moved to the fore, where we have been most of our history. Once again, we have a choice to make. If our state lags behind on broadband, we will be like the towns that were bypassed by the Interstate. Most continued to exist, but the growth went elsewhere, and their future was imperiled. Michigan has a choice: to lead or to lag. Let's choose to lead. I urge you to pass MI HiSpeed Internet plan.
While leading the way with expanded health care coverage and high-speed Internet connections are important for Michigan, improving education remains my top priority. From day one, educating children has been my passion.
Education, more than any other single factor, will assure Michigan's quality of life and economic future. In 1991 I began my first year. That same year, this year's graduating seniors were first graders. I'm sure we're all curious: How have they done? But the more important question to ask is: How have we done by them? That's a question we can answer. We have made Michigan a model for the nation. We passed Proposal A - our greatest achievement. We greatly increased funding. Total state and local funding for schools has gone up almost 70 percent - more than double the inflation rate - much more than funding for state government. We made school funding fair. We virtually eliminated millage elections. Prior to 1994 there were a few rich school districts, and everybody else was trying to pass their millage. We gave massive property tax relief valued at almost $3 billion per year to farmers, seniors and homeowners. What has that meant to a typical family? In Ann Arbor last year, it meant an average annual savings of $2,500. In Livonia last year, it meant an average annual savings of $2,300.
When it comes to kids, I have always believed the answer to the question -- "How have we done by them?" -- is about a lot more than money. It's about reform. And it's about results. We made reform a priority by: providing educational choices for families; bringing charter schools into existence; ending illegal strikes; rewarding high performing schools and students; enhancing technology for teachers and students; restructuring the Detroit Public Schools; and reporting to the public and to parents critical information about our schools.
Today, across Michigan, school districts are actively recruiting children. You can hear it in radio ads. You can see it on the billboards. You can see in TV commercials. School districts are marketing their strengths and selling their improvements. In reaching out to families, they seek to capture the imagination of families that are searching for the best value in education. The fact that public schools are promoting quality faculties, higher test scores, and expanded curricula all proves the gains Michigan is making.
These reforms, and many more, are leading to impressive results. A significant and convincing measure of those results are higher test scores. By many measures, our students are performing better than they were 12 years ago. Last spring, we greeted the news that Michigan students placed first in the nation in math and science achievement. This from the respected and internationally benchmarked study of the Third International Math and Science Study [TIMSS].
In August, we noted with pride that Michigan fourth and eighth graders who took the math portion of the NAEP [National Assessment for Education Progress] test scored above the national average. In fact, only five states outscored our fourth graders, and only four states scored significantly higher than our eighth graders. Michigan high schoolers, on average, do better than kids from other states on the ACT and SAT. What is even better news is that, on average, more students are taking the tests than in years past.
Finally, we are getting better results across the board on our state MEAP tests - from elementary and middle to high school students. In fact, last year almost 48,000 high school graduates earned Merit Awards for proficiency in math, science, reading, and writing.
With all of the work done over the last decade, with all the good news, is there still room for improvement? Unfortunately, the answer is yes. Almost 40 percent of our 4th graders are still not reading at a satisfactory level. No excuse can justify that. Children simply cannot succeed in life if they cannot read in the classroom. All children have to learn to read. Our strategy - keep the focus on each child. No child should be left behind. For schools that leave children behind, our State Board of Education may some day hold those schools accountable and give them a grade.
Believe it or not, the board's new target for final grades is sometime in 2006. I don't have to wait until 2006 to give this State Board their final grade on accountability. They deserve an F. The legislature should not wait for leadership from the State Board of Education. I urge you to pass promptly a package of bills that will bring Michigan into full compliance with the No Child Left Behind Act signed this month by President Bush.
I am proud that Michigan has been a hotbed of education innovation. We have done much. Time after time, we have risen to the challenge. Michigan's Constitution talks of knowledge being necessary to the "happiness of mankind." Tonight, looking at Michigan's future and the importance of understanding science and technology, the challenges ahead for our schools are clear. We have work to do, and we cannot afford to leave any child behind.
Good night. God bless you. And God bless the great State of Michigan.
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 | Stateline.org has put together a list of state public policy resources organized by issue. Here, you will find useful links to essential information from government, academia, and think tanks. If you have a link to add, please email us.
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