A high school diploma is no longer sufficient to ensure a family-wage job. That's one of the key findings of a new report -- Improving the Odds: Preparing Washington Students for Family-Wage Jobs -- recently released by the College & Work Ready Agenda.
For years, Washington state has worked hard to create an education system that prepares our students for life after high school. And while progress has been made, we can no longer move at such a slow pace. Education is the key to a high quality of life, economic vitality and individual prosperity. And since its inception, the ultimate goal of the College & Work Ready Agenda had been to ensure all Washington students receive a rigorous education that prepares them for college and the world of work.
But right now, our current system practically guarantees that, even if students meet the minimum high school graduation requirements, they won't be adequately prepared for a two-year college -- or eligible to even apply to a four-year college.
Now some will argue that not everyone needs to go to college. That our economy will always include low-wage, low-skill jobs that don't require a college education. While this is true, the critical question is: who decides whether a student is headed for family-wage work or something less?
Washington's K-12 education system should equip ALL students with the knowledge and skills needed to compete for family-wage jobs. And no student -- regardless of race or income -- should be denied the chance to apply to a four-year college if they choose to do so.
We encourage you to read the report and tell us what you think!
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