Gov. Gretchen Whitmer recently signed into law legislation sponsored by state Sen. Lana Theis, R-Brighton, to continue the state’s Dropout Recovery Program, which is used by public school districts throughout Michigan to assist students with completing their high school degree after dropping out of school. Senate Bills 650 and 651 extend the sunset of the program and add reporting requirements for the state to evaluate the program’s achievements and challenges.
“The Dropout Recovery Program helps achieve our goal of preparing all students for future success,” said Theis, who is chair of the Senate Education and Career Readiness Committee. “I am thankful the governor signed this important legislation to keep the program going and help more students earn a high school diploma along with obtaining employment, while also saving school districts money.”
The Dropout Recovery Program was created in 2012 to allow school districts to identify students who dropped out of high school and enroll them in a specialized program with students from other participating districts to complete the courses needed to graduate. Districts may partner together to meet the needs of students who have faced challenges in the classroom, while sharing the cost to run the program.
