The honor of being named national education policy leader of the year has to be bittersweet for Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm.

The National Association of School Boards of Education announced the award Friday. But many of Granholm's initiatives it praised were cut back or eliminated in the latest budget, including the Michigan Promise Grant college scholarships.

The Democratic governor is trying to get lawmakers to restore the scholarships, but it's unclear if they will.

Other initiatives for which she was praised, such as creating a public-private partnership to improve childhood care and education, also were trimmed to deal with a $2.8 billion shortfall.

Granholm says education is the most important strategy for transforming Michigan's economy.