Released January 12, 2010

The 2009 Data Book contains some good and bad news about the state's dropout crisis, a key concern and focus area of Michigan's Children.

On the good side, the rate of high school dropouts declined by 6 percent between 2006 and 2007, the latest year for which data were available.  But the progress is seriously jeopardized by continued budget cuts to education programs and schools.

Furthermore, the data show much work remains to be done.  In 2008, well over 20,000 Michigan students who should have graduated that year had dropped out - that's 14 percent of the young people who began high school four years earlier.  And another 13,500 students needed more than the traditional four years to graduate.

This requires our immediate attention.

On Jan. 14, Michigan's Children sent letters to Legislative leadership and members of the House and Senate education committees urging them to take swift action to ensure the future of our economy by committing to adequately educate and prepare our next generation of workers.

You can contact them, too and help to reinforce this message. Get contact information.

Click here to read a statement from Michigan's Children.

Click here for the data book, executive summary, county profiles and more.

Read the letter

Read a fact sheet

Read the press release

Place AND Public Policy Matter to Kids & Families

The 2009 Data Book emphasized the importance of place to well-being, and offers a comparison of trends in rural, midsized and urban counties. The findings prove the need to invest in children, and bring to the forefront evidence that children and families are languishing in Michigan's fiscal crisis.

Clearly, the well-being of children is the key to our economic future. And, as good public policy making can contribute positively to well-being, inadequate or misguided public policy making also contributes. The good news is that we already know what it takes for kids to thrive in school and the workplace. The challenge is that we need to better connect public policy decisions to what works.

We know that the Fiscal Year 2011 budget is going to prove to be a difficult year as significant cuts lie ahead that will negatively impact our most vulnerable if the legislature does not pass new revenue. Advocates must speak up now.

Click here to read more about how you can use the Kids Count in Michigan 2009 Data Book to help legislators make the connections to help children and families.