Michigan continues to lag behind in the knowledge economy, despite having world-class institutions of higher education. The state has systematically disinvested in higher education funding over the past decade by cutting state aid by 65%. ‘Reinventing’ the dark ages is not the path towards a brighter future.

Study after study after study emphasizes the importance of a highly educated workforce in the economic vitality of any state in the 21st Century. Economists from across the nation and right here in Michigan have been telling us that the single best investment a state can make in its job market comes from higher education. Michigan Future, Inc. says the most prosperous states have several traits in common [1]:

· A high proportion of wages from knowledge industries
· A high proportion of college graduates
· A large metropolitan area with higher per capita income than the state
· Largest city in that metro area has high proportion of college grads
Simply put: the places with the greatest concentration of talent win.

Michigan has no choice but to re-align our state resources behind attracting talent. The boldest way to do that is by ensuring a quality and highly educated workforce to attract the companies and families creating

That commitment can, and must, start at an early age by creating a strong foundation that starts at Pre-K and runs through graduation by restoring funding to the School Aid Fund and protecting it from future raids

Let’s Start a Learning Revolution from Skillshare on Vimeo.

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