“Entrepreneurship is an opportunity for high school students to begin defining their careers,” said State Superintendent Dr. Michel Rice. “It's a lifestyle that embraces creativity, innovation, and the courage for students to pursue their dreams and provides high school students with the opportunity to develop something meaningful from scratch that provides the entrepreneur with a living wage.”
According to the Statistics of U.S. Businesses by the U.S. Census Bureau, 911,914 small firms have established themselves in Michigan, which accounts for 99.6% of all businesses in Michigan. View the Entrepreneurship Week proclamation to learn more.
“Every Michigander deserves a fair shot to make it in Michigan, no matter who they are or what they want to do,” said Governor Whitmer. “During Entrepreneurship Week, let’s encourage Michiganders to build the next great product or service right here in Michigan. Whether you’re a young, hungry dreamer with big aspirations or someone looking for a fresh start to chase that idea you’ve always had, we got your back every step of the way. We’ll continue investing in education and training, supporting our small business owners, and growing our economy so you can thrive.”
Entrepreneurship is a key building block to success in the workplace and communities as it brings ideas, creativity, and innovation to life and drives economic growth on local, state, and national levels, Dr. Rice added.
All state-approved career and technical education (CTE) programs are required to provide entrepreneurship as an integral component. The business management and administration program and the marketing program recommend the entrepreneurship small business (ESB) certification, which is an industry-recognized credential that validates foundational concepts and knowledge in entrepreneurship and small business management.
Student leadership opportunities support entrepreneurship, employability, and career ready practices. These activities prepare students to become effective leaders. For example, participation in a Career and Technical Student Organization (CTSO) provides an excellent framework for developing leadership skills.
Please visit MI School Data to locate current CTE programs offered in Michigan and search by program or location. In addition, please view the college credit opportunity column in your search for CTE programs that offer early middle college (EMC) or dual enrollment opportunities.
The Michigan Perkins V state plan for CTE supports Michigan’s Top 10 Strategic Education Plan to:
- Expand secondary learning opportunities for all students
- Increase the percentage of all students who graduate from high school
- Increase the percentage of adults with a post-secondary credential
Please direct questions to MDE’s career readiness unit supervisor, Deb Miller, at [email protected].