Just when I was starting to think all national legislators were doing these days was fretting over auto executive salaries, Washington Senator Patty Murray restored my faith in humanity. Penning a poigant editorial in this morning’s Tri-City Herald, Sen. Murray deftly positions education and workforce training as key to our nation’s economic recovery.

“Nationally, a third of our students don't graduate from high school in four years. The numbers are even more disturbing for minority students - half of black and Hispanic ninth-graders don't graduate in four years,” writes Sen. Murray. “These are dismal statistics. They show we simply aren't doing a good job of preparing our kids to move on to the next step. And when we shortchange our students, we undercut our ability to compete globally.”

Sen. Murray holds that a crucial component of improving our nation’s education and competitiveness involves scaling-up rigorous Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs so that students are aware of and engaged in the jobs of the future.

“The Tri-Tech Skills Center is teaching students about possible careers,” continues Sen. Murray. “And the school is helping keep students engaged by enabling them to earn a diploma and, either a certificate in a vocation or the prerequisites to move on to a certificate or a degree program in their field.”

“But too often our schools get used to business as usual, reluctant to innovate, while scrambling for resources just to meet their students' basic needs. At the same time, some businesses have yet to realize that the success of our students today will determine their ability to thrive in the future. “

Too true. Sen. Murray’s words simply couldn’t have come at a better time as our state and national governments deliberate on how to effectively invest in education, despite deficits and our flagging economy.

To learn more about Sen. Murray’s work in education and workforce development and her new “Promoting Innovations to 21st Century Careers” legislation, visit her website.