"'For decades, the dominant 'college for all' narrative has led to a narrow focus that often leaves students with degrees and debt but limited job prospects,' the grant priority proposal reads. 'By expanding the range of options so that a broader array of education providers can access existing funding in a manner that aligns outcomes with the demands of today's workforce, the government can foster both economic mobility for students and sustained competitiveness for the nation."
"McMahon's plan would channel federal funds toward efforts to align workforce-development programs with state economic priorities. The department proposed supporting projects dedicated to identifying and promoting strong industry-recognized credentials, building tools for students to compare costs and earnings of different educational pathways and growing work-based learning opportunities, like apprenticeships and pre-apprenticeships. It also encouraged support for skilled trades and the development of talent marketplaces, digital platforms run by states to connect job seekers and potential employers based on skills."
The Department of Education proposes prioritizing career pathways and workforce readiness in discretionary grant funding, focusing federal dollars on programs that align education with labor market needs. Grants would support identification and promotion of industry-recognized credentials, tools to compare education costs and earnings, and expansion of work-based learning such as apprenticeships and pre-apprenticeships. The plan emphasizes support for skilled trades and development of state-run talent marketplaces to connect job seekers with employers by skills. The initiative frames alternative pathways alongside traditional college, aiming to reduce degree-and-debt outcomes with limited job prospects and boost economic mobility and national competitiveness.
Read at Inside Higher Ed | Higher Education News, Events and Jobs
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]