Michigan education officials will be scouring the state over the next few months to find new plans for reducing dropout rates in the state.
The Michigan Education Association is sponsoring 10 hearings between May and October to find suggestions on keeping children in school until they graduate.
"Too many students are leaving school before graduating," said MEA President Iris Salters. "We need to work together to understand the scope of the problem and to find sustainable solutions."
"Addressing high school retention and increasing graduation rates must become one of our highest priorities, and we look forward to working with the MEA and other leaders in the education community to gather 'best practices' from across the state and bring them to Lansing," said Dan Quisenberry, president of Michigan's Charter Schools.
Other groups participating in the hearings are the Michigan Association of Intermediate School Administrators, Kent Intermediate School District, Michigan's Children, Michigan's Promise and Michigan Future, Inc.
The hearings are scheduled as follows:
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May 8, 4 p.m., Kent Career Technical Center, 1655 East Beltline NE, Grand Rapids.
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May 15, Macomb Intermediate School District, 44001 Garfield Road, Clinton Township.
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May 22, University Preparatory Academy, 600 Antoinette, Detroit.
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June 5, Capital Area District Library, 401 South Capitol Avenue, Lansing.
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June 12, Genesee Intermediate School District's Davis Education Center, 2413 West Maple Avenue, Flint.
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September 4, Traverse Area District Library, 610 Woodmere Avenue, Traverse City.
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September 11, Ishpeming High School, 319 East Division Street, Ishpeming.
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September 18, Wayne Regional Educational Service Agency, 33500 Van Born Road, Wayne.
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September 25, 3:30 p.m., Zauel Public Library, 3100 North Center, Saginaw.
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Oct. 2, Western Michigan University, Fetzer Center, 1903 Michigan Avenue, Kalamazoo.
Gongwer