The concept of "small schools" sounds like a key part of the public education debate for 2008, but it's clear from the governor's State of the State address that we need to do more than just shrink schools to help both our students and our economy.

There are other basic keys to success that schools need to help students get ready for the workplace, such as:

• Reduced class sizes.
• Engaged parents.
• Strong elementary and middle schools to prepare students for a rigorous high school curriculum.
• Strategies to identify at-risk students and recovery programs to keep them on track.
• Close attention to important transitions, such as 3rd to 4th grade and 9th to 10th grade.

Using all these different tools to ensure student success is the key to preparing them for 21st Century jobs.

The governor did raise another important way to raise student achievement -- early childhood education. All-day kindergarten and other early childhood programs are a great investment in our future. Given the proper tools and resources, more Michigan educators can provide young students with a strong academic foundation to help them achieve throughout their lives.

We know that all these strategies work to help our kids. They are already in place where the necessary investments in public education have been made.

The real trick is empowering administrators and staff to work together to help all schools -- big or small -- succeed. There are countless examples -- from urban magnet programs to rural resource sharing -- that show such cooperation can happen through the collective bargaining process. School employees' working conditions are students' learning conditions -- collective bargaining has improved both and will continue to be a vital part of ensuring schools are getting Michigan's students ready to work.