EDUCATION

Goal:

Foster an environment that promotes education for the jobs of tomorrow and elevates the local standards of excellence across the region.

The Importance Of The Education Pillar

Education is the critical foundation on which an individual is able to support themselves within their lifetime; education starts from the time the person is born until they die. Schools often serve as an indicator of a region’s success, overall social health, and appeal as a place to live, work, and raise a family. Parents expect children to receive a quality education in a safe and progressive setting that offers their children competitive skills. Society expects educational institutions to teach children everything from their ABCs to skills in social interaction, problem-solving, teamwork, and life skills like budgeting, fixing a car, and cooking in addition to geography, math, science, technology, and workforce preparation. Educational institutions have changed over time to meet the growing needs and demands of society. Schools are now providing early learning opportunities and after-school care, while community colleges have taken the baton and extended learning proficiency with high school equivalency, vocational and technical training, professional skills, trades, and college prep coursework. Universities have extended learning continuums for four-year degrees, advanced degrees, and offered night, weekend, and now online courses for professional occupations.

The IND15RPC region has many different school districts, higher education institutions, and workforce development partners who have established programs and services to educate students and respond to growing workforce demands. These institutions have provided a bridge from the family to the community to the region and then onto the larger world. In some cases, it has led to brain drain out of the community.

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, education was impacted like every other sector of the community. K-12 in the region was impacted more because pre-pandemic all their learning was in-person. The universities and community colleges were already offering some classes online and could make that transition easier.

Most families with school-aged children faced several hurdles. Many were impacted by the limits of broadband capabilities with both online schooling and online work, especially in areas of unreliable or limited broadband.

Additionally, many parents struggled with balancing working from home with at-home school programs for their children at the same time. Finally, parents, in some cases, were trying to figure out the technology or coordinating how to get their child’s packets to avoid some of the e-learning challenges. This contributed to many struggles not only across the nation, but specifically here in the IND15RPC region, where broadband, new technology, and quickly pivoting to new e-learning practices created challenges for working parents and families.

The other end of the spectrum came as some businesses in the region struggled to fill open positions while trying to pivot to meet supply chain needs. Businesses did not have access to workers who were available or to workers who had the appropriate skills. Part of this was an issue pre-pandemic due to low levels of unemployment, but part was due to career pathways and brain drain which has led to workforce shortages.

In reviewing the data trends for the region, in the survey, and in discussions with the focus groups and Task Force members, gaps were readily identified. As noted in the existing conditions analysis, these gaps within the education pillar were exacerbated during the pandemic. The strategies in this pillar address these gaps through the strategies, objectives, and actions. Within the discussions of the Task Force, several reasons emerged for the members of the IND15RPC region and the communities to focus on the Education Pillar:

• By focusing on skill development and educational pathways for children and the workforce the region will be able to attract more talent and higher-paying jobs.

• IND15RPC regional colleges and universities will act as the catalysts to attract new businesses, expand existing ones, and focus on supporting local entrepreneurial and innovative efforts by helping adults enhance or develop skills in technology, digital, robotics, advanced manufacturing, intelligent logistics, and skilled trade jobs.

• A quality education and continuing lifelong learning will prepare students and adults for future jobs, increase wealth, and thereby attract more population to the region.

• Strong educational programs that begin in early childhood and continue to adulthood teach both job and life skills and set individuals up for success while ensuring communities thrive.