In 3 1/2 years in office, President Obama has set in motion a broad overhaul of public education from kindergarten through high school, largely bypassing Congress and inducing states to adopt landmark changes that none of his predecessors attempted. He awarded billions of dollars in stimulus funding to states that agreed to promote charter schools, use student test scores to evaluate teachers and embrace other administration-backed policies. And he has effectively rewritten No Child Left Behind, the federal law passed by Congress and signed by President George W. Bush, by excusing states from its requirements if they adopt his measures.
Ariel Corp. couldn’t find the machinists, mechanics and maintenance workers it needed to make natural-gas compressors, so it turned to the roads and highways of Ohio for help. The company has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars since 2009 on an advertising campaign that included billboards in different parts of Ohio. Its goal: to fill more than 200 jobs in a state with an unemployment rate that’s averaged 9.2 percent over the last three years.
In the late 1960s, a Stanford University psychologist began conducting his now famous “marshmallow test” to understand “delayed gratification” – the ability to wait. He would place a 4-year-old alone in a room with a single delicious marshmallow, promising to give him two marshmallows after a short wait. Some children succumbed to temptation, while others held out for the bigger reward. The children who could control their impulses went on to become better, higher-achieving students. Why do we bring up this iconic experiment now, in the midst of the 2012 election season?
Billings business leaders and educators on Thursday pledged to address School District 2's drop-out rate. The drop-out rate “is embarrassing,” said Lyle Knight, who moderated a panel discussion on the state of education in Billings. Speaking during the annual meeting of the Billings Chamber of Commerce Convention and Visitors Bureau, Knight urged chamber members to get involved with their local schools, and support mill levies and bond issues.
When it comes to the competitive spirit, Switzerland usually isn’t the first country that pops into one’s mind. After all, the entire country only scored four medals in this summer’s Olympic games (including a silver for Roger Federer after he fell to Britain’s Andy Murray). But according to the World Economic Forum’s 2012-2013 Global Competitiveness Report, Switzerland is an economic competitiveness powerhouse, topping the rankings of 144 nations for the fourth year straight.
Since late last year, a legislative panel has been studying how the state funds higher education, and it is meeting Wednesday to finalize its work. This is an important issue that, we fear, may be overlooked because it sounds wonkish. However, the committee’s recommendations, which will be the basis for the Legislature’s work next year, could have a great effect on the state. How Nevada funds its higher education system will help determine the future economy.
The critical skills gap in the U.S. workforce has wide-ranging implications for both the current economy and businesses' ability to compete in the future global marketplace. Consider that: according to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, "approximately 90 percent of jobs in fast-growing occupations require some level of post-secondary education and training," and "80 million to 90 million adults today -- about half of the workforce -- do not have the skills required to get or advance in jobs that pay a family-sustaining wage."
Michigan lawmakers and higher education leaders are receiving failing grades for transparency, accountability and policy on the Institute for a Competitive Workforce 2012 Report Card. The institute is a nonprofit affiliate of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce that claims to promote effective job training systems through education.
This is a critical election which requires a candidate provide more than a campaign. A movement is required to elect strong leadership that will ensure Detroit recovers from the unfair practices implemented in Lansing. As an experienced educator and community organizer, I realize the diverse makeup of our new community, which demands visionary leadership that is conscious, connected and committed to unifying and revitalizing our neighborhoods.
West Virginia's colleges and universities received a failing grade in a report released recently by the Institute for a Competitive Workforce. The report identified the Mountain State as one of only four in the nation that received an "F" for not meeting the standards employers demand from four-year institutions.
The Central Florida Education Summit will be hosted by the Central Florida Partnership and sponsored by the Orlando Regional REALTOR Association, in partnership with the National Chamber Foundation, the Institute for a Competitive Workforce, and the Central Florida Public School Board Coalition.
U.S. News STEM Solutions 2013 will bring together business, education and government leaders who have long recognized the need to connect the dots between STEM education and careers. Adding to last year’s successful conference format, the second edition will give more dedicated time for these leaders to interact and collaborate.
