By Rick Pluta, Michigan Public Radio Network
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wkar/local-wkar-965789.mp3
LANSING, MI –
Governor Rick Snyder outlined his education reform agenda at a speech Wednesday in Detroit. As we hear from Michigan Public Radio's Rick Pluta, the governor says Michigan can create a pre-school-through-college system, and improve student performance without spending more money.
AUDIO:
Governor Snyder wants to create a pool of money to reward schools that improve student performance, and tell top-performing schools with empty seats that they have to accept students from other districts.
The governor calls the education system "broken" and says Michigan ranks too low in reading and math scores and college readiness compared to how much the state spends on schools.
"No one - no one in Michigan can be proud of those statistics," he says. "It's something we do need to solve and we do need to do it together."
The governor says he wants to do more to keep the best teachers in classrooms and make it easier to get low-performing instructors to switch careers. But critics say, if his proposed budget is any indicator, Snyder does not appear willing to back his priorities with the money to make them happen.