Senate Passes Portman, Kaine, Baldwin Career Readiness Amendment

Press Release

Today, the Senate unanimously passed an amendment to the Every Child Achieves Act of 2015 introduced by U.S. Senators Rob Portman (R-Ohio), Tim Kaine (D- Va.), and Tammy Baldwin (D- Wis.) to help ensure students are ready for postsecondary education and the workforce.

The amendment encourages states to create work-based learning opportunities through partnerships with businesses that allow students to earn industry-recognized credentials and credit for postsecondary education. By incorporating career readiness indicators into their state accountability systems, states will have the opportunity to recognize schools that are successfully preparing students for postsecondary education and the workforce through tools like technical skills training and college credits. The amendment strengthens the Career Ready Act, which was incorporated into the Every Child Achieves Act of 2015 after being introduced by Portman, Kaine, and Baldwin earlier this year.

"We can better prepare our students for the jobs of the 21st century by improving the way we track career readiness during high school years," said Portman. "While much focus is given to traditional college preparation, career readiness programs are also critical to help students obtain a job in a high-demand career field -- and we must do better at encouraging states to highlight these opportunities."

"I'm pleased the Senate passed our bipartisan amendment that will prepare today's students for the economy of tomorrow by encouraging schools to provide students with work-based learning opportunities," said Kaine. "Today on the Senate floor I spoke about schools like T.C. Williams High School in Alexandria, which is teaching students about money management and financial planning through work experience at a credit union, and William Byrd High School in Winton, which has seen graduation rates rise after providing students with hands-on training through part-time jobs. Our amendment gives states the opportunity to reward high schools like T.C. Williams and William Byrd while sending a strong message to schools, businesses, parents and students that it is critical to be prepared for the workforce regardless of postsecondary education plans."

"As the demand for a workforce with highly-technical skills continues to grow, I'm proud to support this amendment to ensure our students are offered courses that will help prepare them for our 21st century Made in Wisconsin economy," said Baldwin. "This career readiness amendment will help schools provide a pathway for students to be career-ready on graduation day with a solid foundation to build upon to enter the field of their choice."

Portman serves as co-chair of the Senate Career and Technical Education Caucus, which supports efforts to ensure all students have access to high-quality, rigorous career and technical education to prepare them for college and for their future careers. It also works to ensure that unemployed and displaced adult and youth workers have better access to training that is accountable, equips them with skills that are relevant in the job market, and ultimately delivers results for the taxpayer.

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