Ryan Martin Deputy Director, NGA Center For Best Practices | National Governors Association
A recent initiative convening in New York City highlighted the importance of building effective education-to-workforce pipelines. The event, organized by Let's Get Ready!, focused on identifying successful models that can be adapted to meet different states' needs and improve the national education system.
NGA Chair Colorado Governor Jared Polis emphasized the need to explore workforce training and technology to prepare students for success. "We want to explore what we’re learning in workforce training and technology to help us prepare students for success – and, of course, focus on what role states and Governors can play," he stated.
The panel featured several experts, including Dr. Tequilla Brownie from TNTP, who discussed the importance of defining educational success beyond standardized tests. She noted that young people from poverty have limited chances of achieving a living wage by age 30 despite academic achievements. "We sit at the intersection of research, policy and practice," she said, emphasizing the need for multiple pathways and personalized supports for students.
Dr. Stephen Moret from Strada Education Foundation highlighted quality apprenticeships as a key pathway to economic success. He stressed the importance of tracking data related to unemployment insurance, non-degree credentials, and engaging with employers for qualitative insights.
Shalinee Sharma from Zearn spoke about aligning education with workforce needs. She pointed out that employers are often dissatisfied with graduates' readiness for work. "Technology is neither good nor bad; it’s just a force multiplier of whatever the human intent is behind it," she remarked.
Scott Pulsipher from Western Governors University emphasized vocational identity's role in connecting education with personal purpose. He advocated for competency-based education aligned with workforce skills.
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy discussed strategic apprenticeship programs in sectors like pharmaceuticals and solar energy. Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee mentioned efforts to connect higher education outcomes with income tracking through dashboards.
The initiative aims to replicate successful models across states while adapting them to local needs.
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