In an effort to create the “innovative educational partnerships” called for by the Cherry Commission in 2004, Parker High School will team up with instructors from Lansing Community College to provide students with the opportunity to earn college credits without ever leaving their high school. The school, located in Marion Township just south of Howell, is expected to open in the fall of 2007, and will house 10 classrooms to be occupied by LCC teachers. Students can take college classes in the same building before or after school and at night in a more convenient and cost effective setting. Governor Granholm emphasized in her State of the State address that an educated workforce is the key to growing the economy, and Parker High School will be one example of the efforts to double Michigan’s number of college graduates. The cost of taking college classes will be half what it would otherwise cost at a state public university.