The Chamber

Workforce

Policy priorities in 2010 for education and workforce development include helping states and localities provide access to high-quality pre-K programs for all children, advocate for proposals requiring a quality, rigorous and well-rounded K-12 educational system that prepares youth for post-secondary education or the workforce, promote legislation that provides incentives for states and localities to raise academic standards and improve assessments to align them with college and workplace expectations, and encourage better alignment between high school graduation requirements, state academic achievement standards, and post-secondary entrance requirements.  The Chamber will also support and promote policies that focus on institutions serving historically under represented groups, community colleges, and career colleges and universities and support efforts to increase college completion rates among all students.  Finally, the Chamber will continue to support and promote employment and training programs that are driven by the actual needs of employers based on accurate and timely local labor market data.