A new report by the Michigan League for Public Policy says persistent racial disparities in educational opportunities still plague our state.

League president and C-E-O Gilda Jacobs says racial disparities exist in nearly every area of public policy.

She says there is a need for statewide, systemic policy change.

"The kids that are being educated in our schools are the workers of tomorrow, they're the parents of tomorrow, and it's really important that we go in and address these disparities head on because we really need this not only for these people but also the economic state of Michigan."

The report found that African-American students in Michigan are twice as likely to be economically disadvantaged than white students and, with the exception of Asian students, fewer children of color are completing high school on time compared with their white peers.