SBAM Policy Position: Launch Michigan is a bi-partisan, multi-sector, nonprofit organization that exists to create conditions through policy and advocacy to re-imagine Michigan’s system of public education. It represents a unique partnership between business, labor, and philanthropy. SBAM aligns with the Launch Michigan educational reform framework, which helps students develop skills and prepare them to enter into the workforce.

Yes. Launch Michigan is a critical piece of my own education plan that I rolled out in May. Their bipartisan, multi-sector approach to strengthening learning in Michigan will complement my education plan, which seeks to deliver every Michigan kid the world class education they deserve.

Yes, to the extent that I support reforms that better align education with workforce needs and expand opportunity for every student. Michigan needs electricians as much as engineers, and young artists deserve pathways to successful careers as well. Every student should graduate prepared for their next step, whether that is college, the military, the skilled trades, or the workforce.

My goal is simple: every student not headed directly to college or military service should graduate with a trade certification, professional license, industry-recognized credential, or career-ready portfolio. A Michigan diploma should be a passport to opportunity, and our education system should be focused on preparing students for success in the real world.

However, any meaningful education reform legislation must embrace the expansion of educational choice, mastery-linked promotion for literacy, and accountability for the massive state investment in education. We must confront administrative waste in state education spending. Over the past several years, Michigan has dramatically increased spending on education while public school enrollment has declined, spending on personnel has sharply increased, and our state ranks 44th in the nation for 4th grade reading proficiency. There are more school districts in Southeast Michigan alone than in the entire state of Florida. We can eliminate this waste and duplication and return the savings to the classroom. Furthermore, I also strongly support increasing accountability by making Michigan’s education superintendent a gubernatorially appointed office and reforming the state board of education to add gubernatorial appointees to that entity.

Finally, I will oppose any legislation that undermines the Proposal A protections for property taxpayers passed by Michigan voters in 1994 and strongly supported by SBAM.