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Legislative News and Views - Rep. Jason Isaacson (DFL)

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NEWS RELEASE: Rep. Isaacson introduces legislation to renew technical and career education in our schools

Monday, March 16, 2015
 
ST. PAUL—Today, Rep. Jason Isaacson (DFL—Little Canada) introduced legislation to provide improved career and technical education opportunities in Minnesota schools. The bill would provide schools with grants to update their technical education equipment, funding to innovate and expand career and technical education programs, and resources for schools to hire staff to teach these courses.
 
Isaacson’s bill would provide $10 million for schools in Greater Minnesota and $10 million for schools in the seven county Metro area, to ensure that kids in every corner of the state have the same access to improved technical education opportunities.
 
“Minnesota, despite having one of the best education systems in the country, has a major skills gap,” said Rep. Isaacson. “Employers repeatedly tell us that they want to hire workers but can’t find people with the skills and training needed to do the job.”
 
The bill would establish a grant program to help schools update the equipment needed to teach modern day technical education courses and would also provide the funding needed for schools to expand and update technical education curriculums. In addition, the bill would provide funding for schools to hire more teachers for these subject areas. Isaacson said that a major factor contributing to the skills gap is that many school districts have lessened or eliminated technical and career training from their high school curriculums.
 
“We need to make sure we are preparing our students for the jobs that are out there,” said Rep. Isaacson. “Today’s economy is different from the economy 20 years ago that told us we needed more four year college degrees and less skilled labor. Minnesota employers are looking for these skills and it’s our responsibility to make sure our kids have access to learning opportunities that prepare them for real world, in-demand jobs.”
 
Rep. Isaacson is an instructor at Century Community College in Maplewood, and has also led efforts to increase technical and on-the-job training programs for post-secondary students.
 
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