Rick Snyder: Education system in Michigan, U.S. 'doesn't work'

Gov. Rick Snyder opened his education summit in East Lansing Monday with remarks critiquing the education system in both Michigan and the U.S., the Detroit Free Press reported.

The Republican leader from Ann Arbor said students are not being prepared to enter the workforce and pointed to the 60,000 vacant, high-quality jobs listed on the state's website that if filled could lower the state's unemployment rate by 1.5 percent, the Free Press reported.

Since taking office in 2011, Synder has worked to reform the state's education system through stricter evaluations for school employees, by lifting the cap on charter schools and his "best practice" incentives, among other reforms. His current proposal of learning that is "any time, any way, any pace, any place" is threatening to traditional school district boundaries and schedules.

Controversial legislation that would allow students to attend multiple learning institutions throughout the school day using a voucher program is being vetted and is making its way through the State Legislature.

• Read the report in the Detroit Free Press.

Danielle Arndt covers K-12 education for AnnArbor.com. Follow her on Twitter @DanielleArndt or email her at daniellearndt@annarbor.com.