Meeting the Demand for New Workers -- Investing in Career Related Learning for High School Students

Pennsylvania has a fragmented, underfunded high school career-related education system. This undercuts success in college and careers for hundreds of thousands of students annually, while exacerbating skill shortages for businesses and throttling Pennsylvania's economy. Pennsylvania also has a legislature that supports career-related education on a bicameral, bipartisan basis, a governor that wants to "drastically increase" CTE, and a body of experience with industry-led workforce intermediaries beyond most states. Through strategic and integrated investment and system-building in career-related education in K-12 public education, Pennsylvania can leapfrog other states, expand the horizons and futures of Pennsylvania students, and enable businesses to thrive. It's time for Pennsylvania's new legislature and new governor to get started. [This report was produced in partnership with Children First and the PA Schools Work campaign.]