Michigan education officials cite gains, outline budget requests tied to 'Top 10' strategic plan

LANSING — State Superintendent Dr. Michael Rice told the House Appropriations Subcommittee on School Aid and Department of Education that Michigan has made measurable gains on several goals in the state’s “Top 10” strategic education plan, and asked the subcommittee to support multiple budget requests to sustain and expand that progress.

Rice, joined by Sue Carnell, chief deputy superintendent of the Michigan Department of Education (MDE), presented the department’s review of the Top 10 strategic education plan and highlighted gains and outstanding gaps across early childhood, literacy, career and technical education (CTE), teacher supply and school funding.

Rice told lawmakers the state’s four‑year graduation rate reached a historic high — 82.8 percent (reported as about 83 percent) compared with 80.6 percent when Rep. Kelly last served in the Legislature — and that the governor’s 60-by-30 postsecondary credential goal is at a high watermark of 51.8 percent. He credited expanded CTE, personal curricula, early warning intervention systems and other supports for some of the improvements. “CTE completers are at the highest level in our state’s history, 52,625, up 19% in the last 3 years,” Rice said. He added that participation and test‑score outcomes in Advanced Placement programs have risen in the last two years as well.

Why it matters: Rice emphasized that several of the plan’s goals are “interlocked,” and that resource goals — notably addressing the teacher shortage and providing adequate and equitable school funding — are upstream priorities that affect many downstream outcomes, including early literacy and graduation. The department asked the subcommittee for targeted investments to address persistent shortfalls in areas such as special education and rural CTE access.

Key budget requests and program details

- Career and Technical…