COLUMBIANA – Governor Robert
Bentley on Tuesday announced a statewide effort that will help students better
prepare for successful careers.
The Governor’s College &
Career Ready Task Force will bring together members of the education community
and the business community in a united effort to strengthen the preparation of
students for the workforce. Governor Bentley is asking business leaders
to partner with educators and routinely discuss the types of skills that are
needed in today’s workplace. Educators can then use that feedback,
coupled with their own expertise, to develop new programs that will train students
in the skills that are sought by employers.
“The result is that more students
will be college and career ready, and more people will be able to find a good,
well-paying job,” Governor Bentley said. “As we continue to strengthen
our workforce, that will also help us attract more new companies and more new
jobs for the people of Alabama.”
Representatives of K-12 schools,
two-year colleges, four-year colleges and the business community will work
together on the task force, helping the state offer a more coordinated approach
to workforce development. As part of the task force, businesses can also
be encouraged to invest in career training initiatives.
“By coordinating our workforce
development efforts, we can give more students a seamless transition from the
classroom to the workplace,” Governor Bentley added. “The work of the
task force can also help more students understand the variety of good careers
that are available. A lot of good career training is already taking place
at various schools. The goal of this task force is to make sure our
efforts are reaching more students across Alabama.”
“Governor Bentley and I are
convinced that the path to a brighter and more productive Alabama rests in the ability to educate and
train our existing and future workforce,” State Superintendent of Education Dr.
Tommy Bice said. “The formation of the College and Career Ready Task
Force is another step in the direction of making sure Alabama students have the knowledge and
skills necessary to move seamlessly from high school to college and/or the
workforce. This team of educators and business professionals has been
assembled to make sure we are clearly articulating exactly what is expected
from teachers, administrators, parents, students and the business community to
make sure Alabama students not only graduate from high school, but do so with
the ability to successfully transition into college or the workforce without
mandatory remediation – a foundational component of the State Board of
Education’s PLAN 2020.”
“The Governor’s College and Career
Ready Task Force is another tool that the State of Alabama will have under its belt to ensure
that we are preparing our students and citizens for the jobs of today and the
jobs of tomorrow,” Alabama Community College System Chancellor Dr. Mark
Heinrich said. “In our roles as educators and business and industry leaders,
tasked with preparing the people of this state to go out and be successful in
the workforce, it is crucial that the right people are at the table having the
right conversation.”
Lieutenant Governor Kay Ivey,
House Speaker Mike Hubbard, Senate President Pro Tem Del Marsh and Secretary of
Commerce Greg Canfield will serve as co-chairs of the task force.
Secretary Canfield said the work
of the task force will compliment Accelerate Alabama – the state’s long-term, strategic
economic development plan.
“One of the goals of the
Accelerate Alabama partnership is to close the gap between the skills employees
have and what employers need. This task force will tighten our focus on
this goal and make it reality,” Secretary Canfield said. “Our economic
development team, K-12, postsecondary and industry working together will forge
a partnership that ensures that every child in Alabama has the opportunity to learn the
skills needed in today’s work environment.”
The task force is not a new
governance structure or decision-making authority. Rather, it is a
gathering of business and education professionals who will work to make
practical recommendations on ways to strengthen workforce development.
Tuesday’s announcement was made at
the Shelby County School of Technology, which already offers students a variety
of Career Technical Academies. The academies are a strong example of how
the education and business communities can work together to produce a more
highly-skilled workforce. The College & Career Ready Task Force will
encourage similar partnerships in additional schools throughout Alabama.
“The key to economic strength in Alabama is a
well-educated, well-trained and prepared workforce, and our school district is
working very hard to meet this vital goal,” Shelby County Superintendent Randy
Fuller said. “Many of the goals and objectives for the Governor’s new
task force are being successfully modeled here in Shelby County,
including a strong focus on workforce development and partnerships with
business and industry. We also have a collaborative effort between the
school district, Jefferson State Community College
and the University
of Montevallo through our
very successful Vertical Teaming Initiative.”
The first meeting of the
Governor’s College & Career Ready Task Force is expected to take place
within the next month.
Click here to view a copy of the executive order establishing the College & Career Ready Task Force. The executive order includes additional details regarding the task force’s participants and priorities.