spot_imgspot_img

Helping students learn essential skills ‘a step in the right direction’

spot_img

(The Center Square) — A Georgia business group says a state committee’s efforts to help students learn essential trades and skills is “a step in the right direction.”

The Joint Study Committee on Dual Enrollment for Highly Skilled Talent at Younger Ages, established by Senate Resolution 175, was asked to find ways to produce more dual enrollment students and develop skilled younger workers.

Under Georgia’s Dual Enrollment Program, students at eligible public schools, private high schools or home-study programs can start taking college classes while still in high school.

“One of the number one needs that always comes up year in and year out is workforce,” state Sen. Matt Brass, R-Newnan, said during an August hearing. “How do we attract talent to come to rural parts of the state?”

Among its recommendations, the committee wants lawmakers to simplify and streamline existing aspects of the Dual Enrollment. They also want to develop a clear definition of what constitutes high-demand careers and corresponding coursework.

“Our small businesses applaud the efforts of the study committee to address the workforce issue in Georgia,” National Federation of Independent Business State Director Hunter Loggins told The Center Square via email.

“Anything to make it easier and more appealing for students to learn essential trades and skills is a step in the right direction,” Loggins added. “This committee, along with the Senate’s study committees on workforce and truck driver shortages and the governor through his Georgia Match program, understand that having a healthy, robust workforce is key to remaining the No. 1 state to do business.”

The committee is one of several state lawmakers established to explore a prolonged worker shortage. State officials routinely tout the state’s low unemployment rate, though labor numbers show roughly 39% of Georgia’s working-age population isn’t participating in the workforce.

“We’re not trying to fix something that’s broken,” state Rep. Matt Dubnik, R-Gainesville, said during an August hearing. “We’re just trying to put more oil in the machine.”

According to an analysis from the Georgia Budget & Policy Institute, the dual enrollment program has a $76 million budget for fiscal 2024, a $7 million reduction.

The final report recommended giving an undetermined amount of additional funding for Technical College System of Georgia instructors and high school counselor positions. It also proposed performing an “ongoing return on investment analysis.”

Committee members want lawmakers to nix the sunset provision of Senate Bill 86, which creates a three-year pilot program allowing some dual enrollment students to access HOPE Grant funds for select Career Technical and Agricultural Education courses. Gov. Brian Kemp, a Republican, signed the measure into law earlier this year.

“We’ve been getting it right for a long time, and we’re about to make it better,” Brass said.

DON’T MISS OUT

Be the first to know about the latest news, giveaways, events, and updates from The Black Chronicle!

We don’t spam! Read our privacy policy for more info.

spot_img
spot_img

Hot this week

African and Caribbean Nations Call for Reparations for Slave Trade, Propose Global Fund

Nations across Africa and the Caribbean, deeply impacted by...

Health care company agrees to pay $22.5 million to settle claims of over billing

A health care company agreed to pay nearly $22.5...

Sports betting expert offers advice on paying taxes for gambling winnings

(The Center Square) – Tax season is underway, and...

Entertainment district benefits don’t outweigh the cost, economists say

(The Center Square) — Weeks later, after more details...

Business association ‘disappointed’ by WA L&I’s proposed workers comp rate hike

(The Center Square) – The Association of Washington Business...

State Funding Board approves $6.8M in FastTrack grants

(The Center Square) - The Tennessee State Funding Board...

South Dakota Senator files bill to abolish Department of Education

(The Center Square) – President-elect Donald Trump wants to...

Helene: Ninth week of recovery, in some places through snow

(The Center Square) – Federal, state and volunteer help...

Florida surpasses 6,400 bonuses for new police recruits

(The Center Square) – Florida surpassed giving 6,400 bonuses...

Physicians in four Philly hospital networks move to unionize

(The Center Square) – Following in Penn Medicine’s footsteps,...

Colorado skiing company planning report to justify suing oil companies

(The Center Square) – Aspen One recently published a...

Research underway on how solar farms and agriculture can co-exist

(The Center Square) – As solar farms continue to...

Peach and Blossom Receive Presidential Pardon in Time-Honored Tradition

Today, President Joe Biden will pardon the National Thanksgiving...

More like this
Related

State Funding Board approves $6.8M in FastTrack grants

(The Center Square) - The Tennessee State Funding Board...

South Dakota Senator files bill to abolish Department of Education

(The Center Square) – President-elect Donald Trump wants to...

Helene: Ninth week of recovery, in some places through snow

(The Center Square) – Federal, state and volunteer help...

Florida surpasses 6,400 bonuses for new police recruits

(The Center Square) – Florida surpassed giving 6,400 bonuses...