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Innovations to 21st Century Careers

The increasingly global economy has meant exciting new opportunities for our state and our nation, but the new economy has also presented us with real challenges. 

Innovations to 21st Century Careers

I am deeply troubled by the widening gap between the number of jobs that are available in fields from health care to energy development – and the number of workers who have the skills to fill those jobs.  Drop-out rates and unemployment are on the rise, and it is clear that we must find innovative ways to make education work for our students and our businesses. 

Over the last year, I’ve traveled throughout Washington state, bringing together students, teachers, workforce and economic development leaders, employers, and labor officials to talk about solutions.  And the result is legislation - the Promoting Innovations to 21st Century Careers Act (S.3573) - which I introduced in September along with Senators Kennedy, Clinton, Brown, and Sanders.

My bill would provide incentives for communities, employers and schools to work together and identify ways to open up “career pathways” that help our students get the knowledge and skills they need to succeed by providing for:

  • New Resources – The bill establishes $912 million in federal grants that can be used by state and regional partnerships to help students move from high school, to a wide array of post-secondary education options, to skilled careers.

  • Strong Partnerships – It requires state and regional partnerships applying for funding to include representatives from high schools, post-secondary education, business, labor, workforce, and economic development.

  • Innovation – It encourages state and regional partnerships to develop career pathways for high school students that include counseling, mentoring, work-based experiences, and assistance in obtaining degrees, apprenticeships, and other postsecondary credentials.

  • Real Accountability – The bill incorporates measures to evaluate the success of state and regional efforts, including reports to Congress.

Education is the key to a bright future, and I’m hopeful that the ideas I’ve presented in my bill will fuel a national discussion about ways we can improve education and keep our economy strong. 

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In the News...

Students, state urged to fill the void in the work force

The consensus at a two-hour hearing convened by Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., and held in a packed auditorium at South Seattle Community College was that alternatives to four-year college degrees must be destigmatized and better publicized.

- Seattle Post Intelligencer

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Tacoma dropouts get a new chance

The partnership of the Tacoma School District, Bates Technical College and Communities in Schools of Tacoma aims to give dropouts between 16 and 21 the individualized learning plans and one-on-one attention they need to earn their diplomas.

- The News Tribune

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The trades also need our best and brightest

Last week's visit was a program set up for U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., to give adults and young people the chance to talk about why so few people are joining the trades these days.

- Everett Herald