NEW: Senate Bill To Spur Education-Business Linkage
Thursday, May 26, 2011
A bill that requires the state’s schools to address the changing needs of local business and industry and promote workforce development through its career and technical education programs passed the RI Senate on Wednesday.
The bill, (2011-S 0957aa), was sponsored by Sen. Hanna M. Gallo, chair of the Senate Committee on Education, and will now go to the House for consideration.
“We are continuing to work to build a world-class workforce for Rhode Island,” said Sen. Gallo, “and this legislation is a significant part of that effort.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST"This bill acknowledges that career and technical education should provide a pathway to respond to the needs of business, large and small, as well as innovative and emerging industries,” she said. “It ensures that students and job seekers have access to the requisite knowledge, skills and abilities desired by employers.”
Economic Summit Prompted Action
The legislation directs the Board of Regents to establish and maintain ongoing connections with higher education, business and industry, and to promote workforce development through their career and technical educational system.
The bill also requires the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to provide annual reports to the General Assembly specifying such things as the number of students attending career and technical schools/programs, the number who have received diplomas and the number of students who obtain employment before or immediately after graduation.
The Gallo bill grew out of an economic summit hosted by the Senate earlier this year that focused on workforce development. Discussion at that summit, and testimony taken during hearings of the Senate’s Small Business Task Force, indicated there continues to be a significant skills gap among much of the Rhode Island labor market.
“This bill well help ensure that we are working to close that gap, to provide students with the skills they need and to provide business with the skilled workers they desire,” said Senator Gallo.
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