Want to Save American Jobs – Start in the Classroom

Apr 02 2013

Education
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Ed Rust, Chairman and CEO of State Farm and Chairman of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Editor’s note: This is cross-posted from CNBC and Free Enterprise. 

As our political leaders take stock of where we stand in 2013—both as individual states and as a nation—we are hearing a consistent message: jobs, our economy and education are inextricably linked.

We heard the President make this case in his State of the Union Address and we’ve heard it echoed by both Democratic and Republican governors. If we want to see some meaningful improvements in our education system, business leaders must step up and lead as well.

Education is akin to a computer’s operating system. It drives other crucial functions in a country: workforce preparedness, business growth and economic strength to name just a few. Unfortunately, our system of education and workforce training has become outdated. If we are going to prepare students as well as we should, we must upgrade.

Business leaders understand the urgency of this better than anyone, and we recognize the world is changing – fast. Low-skill jobs that pay well are disappearing and never coming back. What used to be elite knowledge is now entry-level knowledge.

Other countries are making the education of their workforces a priority. Yet, while the United States still has one of the best educated workforces, we are the only industrialized country where the generation just entering the labor market is less likely to have a college degree than the one about to leave the labor market.

The percentage of youth in America is declining, while the population is growing more diverse. And while the latter trend presents tremendous opportunities, the dropout rate for Latino and African American students in the U.S. remains 20 points higher – almost 50 percent — compared to the overall U.S. school population.

These students, who have been underserved by our education system will become a massive portion of our future workforce. So ensuring access to high-quality education for all students is not just the right thing to do. It’s also the smart thing.

Changing how we educate is as important for the individual worker as it is to the strength of the workforce as a whole.

More than ever, the success of American workers—their income, employment, financial and career stability—are all determined by one simple factor: how well their education matches up with the economic demands of the world. Nothing illustrates this better than the fact that there were 3.7 million unfilled jobs on the last business day of November 2012 despite an unemployment rate that has failed to return to prerecession levels.

Education has always been—and can still be—the key to fulfilling the American Dream. And business depends on education to produce the skilled, innovative, first-class individuals we need to keep America a global leader. But like any system, we should make improvements to optimize it to meet the challenges of today and those we will face tomorrow.

The good news is that there are thoughtful policy solutions that are already having a positive effect at the local, state and federal levels.

World class academic standards are helping ensure that every single student is held to the same high expectations—and given the solid educational foundation—they need to succeed in both school and career. We now look beyond just aggregate and average figures; we also look at subgroups of students, like English Language Learners, who may need more support to reach higher standards. We are accurately reporting graduation rates. And we are bringing renewed priority to improving our nation’s lowest performing schools.

In addition, some of the biggest names in business, from General Electric to ExxonMobil and Wells Fargo, are strengthening their commitment to improving education and ensuring all U.S. students succeed academically and professionally. Many of us are extending that commitment to helping improve America’s education system even further. This April, I will be joining a number of my fellow CEOs to discuss the ways in which we—as business leaders—can help ensure our country is not just aware of the urgency but is implementing the solutions.

Governor Terry Branstad remarked in Iowa’s State of the State address that college and career-readiness upon high school graduation is “an economic and moral imperative.” He’s right of course. America’s success has long been defined by its ability to innovate, adapt and excel. It’s time to apply that thinking to our education system.

 

Business leaders thank lawmakers for investing in education

Mar 29 2013

Education
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With just over a week remaining in the 2013 General Legislative Session, the business community supporting the Prosperity 2020 movement encouraged the Legislature to focus on three unifying elements of a bold, multi-year education agenda.

The Utah State Legislature delivered.

Earlier this week, Randy Shumway, president and CEO of the Cicero Group and vice chair of Prosperity 2020, was a guest on KSL News Radio’s Doug Wright Show to discuss the bills passed to invest in the next generation of Utahns.

“This is a good legislature, a fiscally prudent legislature that, because of their wisdom over the years, we had monies to invest in education this year,” says Shumway. “While other states are hemorrhaging, our state is investing–not just in the short term, but in the long-term for the betterment of our children.”

The original call to action from the business community came by way of a full-page advertisement that ran in both the Salt Lake Tribune and Deseret News. Shumway also did an interview with Wright the following day explaining why the business community supported education-strengthening legislation.

“The business community is the largest customer of education; we’re the ones hiring all of these graduates,” Shumway told Doug Wright. “So we have a vested interest in the quality of student learning. Education is the key to enduring prosperity. It’s critical to note that it’s not merely an economic motivation. This is a moral prerogative. We owe it to the next generation to give them the highest quality education possible.”

The Legislature did four things to invest in education this session:

-   Passed a joint resolution adopting the twin goals of 90 percent reading and math proficiency in elementary schools, and 66 percent of all Utah adults with a postsecondary degree or certificate by 2020

-   Made strategic investments toward measurable goals

-   Committed to develop a collaborative and united education plan

“We have to create a strategic plan. We spend billions of dollars on public education, K-12 as well as higher education,” says Shumway. “Yet the relevance and depth of what a student and a graduate needs to know and what they need to be able to do is constantly evolving. The state needs a unified plan specifying the objectives, the different audiences we need to serve and how we can best achieve those desired objectives for each demographic at the lowest cost and at the best return on investment. And the Legislature this year committed to focus on and invest in that area, and I believe there will be bills that come of that next year.”

Jobs that require STEM skills (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) will grow at 17 percent compared to 9.8 percent growth for non-STEM occupations over the next six to seven years. These are jobs that pay 50-75 percent more than other comparable jobs.

“These are creating family-sustaining careers for Utahns,” says Shumway. “We need to establish systemic change that will propel greater innovation, greater accountability and greater investment in the long-term and short-term education needs in our state.”

 

Join the movement

Mar 22 2013

News
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Today the Love Utah Give Utah campaign is celebrating Utah nonprofits with an unprecedented 24 hours of giving to nonprofits that make Utah a wonderful place to live.

We hope you’ll consider supporting Prosperity 2020.  Join the statewide movement to help take education to new heights and encourage others to do the same.

As little as $20.20 can help expand our reach.

Here’s how it works.  Go to: http://loveutgiveut.razoo.com/story/Prosperity2020

    1. Point
    2. Click
    3. Donate (It’s your choice:  $20.20, $202.0, $2020, $20,200 or an amount of your choosing)
    4. Share (It’s that easy!)

If you are a business owner, you might also consider joining the cause by donating to Prosperity 2020 as an organization.  Many business owners are donating according to how much their employees donate.  For example, for every donation the employees of a company make, the company as a whole will donate an equal or double amount.  Or you might decide to contribute $2020 as a company.

However you decide to do it, we appreciate your support of Prosperity 2020 and our vision that Utah’s well educated and trained workforce will propel Utah to enduring prosperity, improved quality of life and the strongest economy in the nation.  Prosperity…it starts with education.

 

Prosperity 2020 runs full page ad to thank legislators, sets goals for home stretch

Mar 04 2013

Education
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In Sunday’s Deseret News and Salt Lake Tribune, business leaders supporting the Prosperity 2020 movement expressed their thanks for the Legislature’s support of education thus far in the session and laid out three unifying elements of a bold, multi-year education agenda.

This morning, Randy Shumway, president and CEO of the Cicero Group and vice chair of Prosperity 2020, discussed the business community’s recommendations for education priorities with Doug Wright on KSL News Radio.

“The business community is heavily vested in the quality of education in the state,” says Shumway. “We’re the ones hiring all of these graduates. So we decided, let’s demonstrate our appreciation for all that the governor and Legislature are doing, as well as the message of how important education is as we come to the end of this legislative session.”

In the ad, Prosperity 2020 specifically asks the Legislature to:

1. Pass a joint resolution adopting the twin goals of 90 percent reading and math proficiency in elementary schools and 66 percent of adults with a postsecondary degree or certificate by 2020.

2. Make strategic investments toward these measurable goals. As a starting point, and with appreciation for the budget challenges Utah faces, we recommend the following new investments in education: $20 million for higher education’s 66 percent plan, $15 million for a STEM action center, $9 million for additional postsecondary certificates, $20 million for early intervention and children at risk, $1 million for ACT exams for every high school student and full commitment to fund computer-adaptive testing in Utah schools.

3. Commit to the development of a collaborative, 10-year unified education plan that can be adopted by the end of 2014.

“We’ve had a lot of very positive responses–in particular from our legislators saying thank you in particular for delineating what the three priorities ought to be in improving student learning,” says Shumway. “There isn’t a parent, a student, or a business leader out there that does not care about the education of our students. This is our way of saying that during tough times, we have to make priorities, and these are the three things in education on which we ought to be focused.”

At a time when our elected officials face a lot of demand from various groups, Shumway says the business community wanted to thank them for all they do—and all they have consistently done to strengthen the Utah economy over the past few decades.

“We have to remember that we are the best run state in the country for a reason,” he says. “We have a good legislature and a great governor. They are committed to improving education. The business community is simply trying to serve as a catalyst to help all stakeholders focus on the right things to ensure the maximum return on investment in improving student learning.”

Saving for college early helps

Mar 04 2013

Education, Higher Education
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Utah Saves Week, Feb. 25-Mar. 2, encourages individuals and families to find ways to realize their dreams by starting to save early for things that matter, like a college education.

For most families, paying for postsecondary education can be daunting, but the financial benefits of a degree are pronounced.  The Economics of Higher Education report by the US Treasury in December 2012 states, “Median weekly earnings in 2011 for a full-time worker with a bachelor’s degree was $1,053, or 65 percent higher than those for a high school graduate. That amounts to a difference of about $22,600 a year.”

Saving can be an important part of enabling students to pursue those certificates and degrees that will provide better paying jobs and opportunities.  By saving, a student’s debt after graduation can be significantly reduced.

“Not only do loans cost more over the long run, recent market conditions have resulted in a drastic reduction in the sources available for private education loans,” Preston L. Cochrane, President of AAA Fair Credit Foundation writes. “Investing early helps minimize future reliance on loans, and regular investing over time can help lessen the impact of college costs.”

Research shows that postsecondary education is an essential stepping stone to economic opportunity and jobs. Though the cost of education seems daunting for many students, the challenge can be significantly decreased if families are able to find a way to start investing early in their child’s future.  By starting to save a little as early as possible, students will have a solid start at a postsecondary certificate or degree.

For ideas about how to begin saving, see www.utahsaves.org or the Utah Education Savings Plan, http://www.uesp.org/.

The Big 66% Goal

Feb 18 2013

Education, Higher Education
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Statewide there has been growing support for the 66% goal, which has continued to gain momentum and is now being considered by our state legislature.  The goal, one of Prosperity 2020’s three central goals, is that by 2020, 66% of Utah’s population ages 25-64 will have a postsecondary certificate or degree, enabling people to make a better living and fueling a prosperous economy.

The 66% originated in a study from the Center on Education and the Workforce at Georgetown University which projected that by 2020, 66% of Utah jobs will require postsecondary certificates or degrees.  Currently, only 43% of our citizens in that age bracket have higher degrees.  Clearly, there is work to be done and state entities are working together to pave the way to prepare our workforce and our economy for the opportunities of the future.

Specialists in the Utah Department of Workforce Services reviewed the study and fine-tuned the projected numbers with information they collect.  The 66% goal has since been adopted by the State Board of Regents, UCAT’s Board of Trustees, the State Board of Education, the Governor’s Commission on Education Excellence, and a variety of other education-oriented entities.  A bill supporting the 66% goal is currently being considered by the state legislature.  Please contact your state legislators to let them know of your support.

 

Investment in education vital for American competitiveness

Feb 08 2013

News
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The head of the General Electric Foundation spent Wednesday meeting with elected officials and business leaders to reinforce the connection between an educated workforce and the ability to thrive in the global marketplace.

Bob Corcoran, the president and chairman of the GE Foundation, shared three recommendations for the business leaders that gathered from across the state:

1. Help Prosperity 2020

2. Be a lightning rod on educational issues

3. Be a steel rod; be the extra rebar that helps decision makers withstand the pressure

Utah taking steps in the right direction
Corcoran says Utah’s adoption of the goal to have 66 percent of all Utah adults hold a college degree or skilled trade certificate by the end of the decade is impressive.

“I’m not aware of another state in the country that has taken that kind of step to take on a goal like that for itself,” he says. “The movement to set high standards for college and career readiness is very good but 46 other states are doing the same thing. That’s necessary to compete. The work the business community has done is actually distinctive.”

It’s important to adopt a strong internationally competitive standard for what children should learn, know and be able to do. Breaking down the testing of those skills by grade level can help make sure every student is on point to succeed in their education. Prosperity 2020 has a goal of having 90 percent of third and sixth graders proficient in reading and math by the year 2020.

“The jobs we have require a higher educated workforce,” Corcoran says also noting that an educated population ushers in a lifetime of opportunity for everyone. A quality education not only increases the chances of finding a job and contributing to the economy, but also to an increase in quality of life and being able to provide for a family. The ability to send our children to school and have them master skills like analytic problem solving and comprehension can make a huge difference.

“Good quality education levels the playing field for all kids,” he says. “That investment is crucial. They are going to be working for you one day, but if they are really good, you may end up working for them.”

A changing world
We live in a completely different world than we did two decades ago. The way we work, the way we communicate and the way we play have been transformed. The way we learn has to evolve as well.

Corcoran pointed out that America used to be the number one country when it came to the number of high school graduates (under the age of 30) per capita. Today we are tenth in the world.

“This is a huge problem for us,” Corcoran says, adding that one of the most significant shifts is that states no longer face competition just from other states when it comes to business recruitment and attracting top talent. He says in the 21st century, the 50 states collectively face strong competition from other countries.

“Americans have this view that the world is not as good as us,” Corcoran said. “Maybe 20 years ago that may have been partially true.”

Countries like China that used to struggle are now producing some of the top engineering talent in the world, putting the United States behind the educational curve.

“We’re losing jobs to other countries,” Corcoran said. “They are saying that our educational system isn’t good enough for them.”

And that, too, is a big problem at home. We need the skilled and educated workforce to fill increasingly complex and mentally rigorous jobs, and to create businesses. In order to ensure we have  that workforce, a solid education system is necessary.

“Economic competitiveness is based on how strong our education is,” says Corcoran.

Utah has a high percentage of STEM jobs

Jan 31 2013

STEM
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A state-by-state analysis of future STEM demands done by Georgetown University’s Center on Education and the Workforce revealed the following:

“19 states will be at or above the national average of 92 percent in terms of the share of their STEM jobs that will require post-secondary education or training.”

Along with the educational demands of STEM jobs, more openings are to be created in the near future. This isn’t a problem for graduates with a STEM field degree, but the US economy may face a limited workforce pool:

“The national report projects 2.4 million job openings in STEM through 2018; 1.1 million of these will be net new job openings, while 1.3 million will be replacement openings.”

Georgetown University mapped the percentage of jobs within each state that are in the STEM field (seen in the map above).  Utah has a relatively high percentage of STEM jobs.  For more information, click here.

From an article by Michael Higham.

 

STEM jobs among most promising in next 10 years

Oct 16 2012

Education, STEM
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Students entering the workforce in the next decade may want to think hard about math, science and tech degrees. U.S. News and World Report recently compiled a list of The 25 Best Jobs to pursue by 2020, and 8 of the top 10 are STEM-related careers.

Jobs were ranked by projected growth, employment rate, average salary, prospects and overall job satisfaction. It’s no surprise that tech jobs dominate the top ten, with professionals reporting high job satisfaction and solid salaries. The most promising aspect of the report predicts that openings for these positions will match growth and demand, allowing students and workers to find employment in their chosen fields.

U.S. News and World Report also highlights the important roles STEM students will play in the future economy. “A technology revolution reshaping the energy sector through streamlined operations, increased production, and improved distribution will create ample job opportunities for college graduates over the next decade…. College grads with technical and advanced degrees will be needed to fill lucrative positions as engineers, scientists, and technicians.”

In other words, there’s never been a better time to plan for and pursue a career in math, science and tech. The industry will comprise countless jobs in the near future, and young students with STEM inclinations should be encouraged with confidence. Their future is bright.

 

Utah set on becoming top tech center

Oct 09 2012

Education, STEM
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The leaders of Prosperity 2020 embrace a vision for the greater Salt Lake area to become a top ten center for technology jobs and businesses.

While Utah is currently 36th, Utah and its urban areas are already tech-minded, tech-smart and tech-engaged and show great potential. Consider the following rankings:

* Utah ranks first in the country for the number of independent inventor patents per 1,000 people.

* Utah ranks 11th highest in the country for technology jobs as a share of total employment.

* Utah ranks 13th among states for the number of scientists and engineers as a percentage of the workforce.

Over 7,000 technology companies call Utah home, including Adobe, Ancestry.com, Fusion-IO, IM Flash, LANDESK, Lifesciences, Overstock.com, Spillman, Symantec and many other high profile and high value companies. Utah has 20.1% more technology establishments per capita than the national average. With Utah’s business friendly environment, other companies would likely head to the Beehive State if they had the assurance of a steady flow of qualified workers.

Utah’s tech employment per capita is 13.7 percent higher than the national average. In 2010, information technology employment increased in Utah by 2.2 percent while the nation saw a decrease of 1.5 percent. In fact, 103,000 jobs in the state are in information technology, life science and clean tech industries (8.6 percent of total jobs in Utah). And the average wage of those employed in tech jobs is significantly higher than the state’s average wage.

With these kinds of numbers growing in Utah’s technology industry and with a new statewide partnership for STEM education and workforce, Utah plans to step up as a top center for technology jobs and businesses in the next several years.

 

Source: Compiled from published sources and information provided by the Utah Technology Council.