With the school year off and running, the issue of education rises to the top of the radar screen this month – our challenge as a community is to keep it (and also the students) at the top of community priorities throughout the year.
The latest data published by The Greater Louisville Project a few weeks ago made it clear that Louisville is not making enough progress on raising education attainment to leapfrog into the top tier among its peer cities by the end of this decade.
Yet, as the region starts the process of turning the TIP Strategy underwritten by WIRED 65 into a regional economic development strategy for the next ten years, we know that no factor will impact our ability to grow 21st Century jobs as powerfully as the education profile of our community.
Accelerating the pace of change on that agenda will require every entity and institution in the region to sing from the same hymnal setting the expectation with young people that everyone needs to finish high school and go on to at least a year of postsecondary school to earn the skills and credential needed to compete for 21st Century jobs.
Mothers, fathers, uncles, aunts, cousins, pastors, scout leaders, and employers – we can all join that chorus of voices urging students to do what it takes to graduate from high school, go on to post-secondary school and earn a certificate or degree.
What can each of us as individuals contribute to the movement to raise education attainment?
Who were the big influencers in your own life either supporting or discouraging your educational success and aspirations?