Tag Archives: affordability

The President on Education – Choice and Vouchers

By Larry Penley

In his State of the Union address, President Obama emphasized the role of education in our economic recovery. It is education that gives the middle class opportunity for participation in our economy. The President is right. Education’s potential for producing that outcome depends, however, upon two fundamental elements that underlie his thesis. The first is market-based choice in education and the second is the money necessary for the children of working class parents.

A local friend of mine produces annually a map of high- and low-scoring school districts from his company, Maps & Facts, Unlimited.… Continue reading

U.S. employers encounter “skills gap” with available workforce

According to a recent report from the Pathways to Prosperity Project at Harvard’s Graduate School of Education, a “forgotten half” of young adults are unprepared to enter the workforce. These individuals often do not have a high school diploma or cannot afford to finish college. Those who do attend college discover that their degrees do not match employer demand. In response, states and non-profit institutions are working to encourage dialogue between colleges and employers, and to set aside funds for vocational training and apprenticeship programs.