SUCCESS IS BEYOND THE BASICS

SUCCESS IS BEYOND THE BASICS: Last week, we mentioned troubling news that fewer than two-thirds of the state’s high school juniors passed the state’s new math, science and writing tests. This week’s news is better. The new College Readiness Report from the folks who run the ACT tests gives Michigan students improving marks. Michigan ranks ahead of the national average in all tested subject areas. Check out the statewide scores. The most significant nugget: students who pursue more than basic math and science have much higher ACT scores and are much better prepared for college or work life beyond high school graduation. Other fresh data from the Alliance for Excellence in Education ranks Michigan 15th nationally in school funding, 13th in high school gradutation rate, and 6th in teacher pay. The Alliance also estimates the costs of the state’s 45,000 annual high school dropouts: $12 billion in unrealized lifetime earnings, $750 million in added heatlh care costs and $126 million a year in annual community college remediation.