Mackinac Policy Conference: "Education Is A Civil Right"

MACKINAC ISLAND (WWJ) - Education reform will be a hot topic at this year's Mackinac Policy Conference.

"What we want folks to know is that it's never too late to learn and that education is a civil right," said Liza McFadden president of the Barbara Bush Foundation for Literacy.

She tells WWJ that whether you are three or twenty-three access to a quality education is key. "The average person, if they don't have a high school diploma, is losing out," she stressed. "If they have a high school diploma they are going to make more than three-hundred thousand dollars more during their lifetime."

As a state, Michigan benefits by having a well-educated work force she tells WWJ's Vickie Thomas.

"We think that's really critical, for the politicians, the policy makers, the community leaders, the business leaders and for parents to realize the importance of their education and how that's going to impact their children," said McFadden. "Frankly, the number way to tell if a child is going to graduate is simple; did mom and did daddy?"

WWJ will be broadcasting live from the conference all week long. Stay up-to-date on the latest stories - HERE.