U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold, D-Wis., is gearing up for a busy Congressional session.
On Monday, Feingold unveiled a four-part legislative plan, called the E-4 initiative for its focus on economy, employment, education and energy.
The education portion Feingold unveiled Tuesday deserves attention.
The Connecting Education and Emerging Professions (CEEP) Act would provide competitive grants to states and school districts to survey emerging workforce needs.
Districts would be able to design academic and work-based programs to teach students the skills necessary for success in rapidly growing industries such as green industries, advanced manufacturing and health care.
Feingold's plans would provide five-year grants, on a competitive basis, to states and school districts to form education partnerships with businesses, workforce development groups and post-secondary institutions to better engage students.
That's welcome news considering many school districts in Lafayette and Green counties are facing growing financial funding gaps.
The grants would require the partnerships to design in-school and work-based programs in emerging industries. The bill prioritizes grants for rapidly growing industries and communities that have experienced significant job loss.
The bill requires the Department of Education to report to Congress on the effectiveness of the partnerships. The cost of the legislation is fully offset so as not to increase the federal deficit.
This part of the E4 initiative sounds like an idea worth pursuing, especially if it has a system of checks and balances and is at no extra cost to taxpayers.
On Monday, Feingold unveiled a four-part legislative plan, called the E-4 initiative for its focus on economy, employment, education and energy.
The education portion Feingold unveiled Tuesday deserves attention.
The Connecting Education and Emerging Professions (CEEP) Act would provide competitive grants to states and school districts to survey emerging workforce needs.
Districts would be able to design academic and work-based programs to teach students the skills necessary for success in rapidly growing industries such as green industries, advanced manufacturing and health care.
Feingold's plans would provide five-year grants, on a competitive basis, to states and school districts to form education partnerships with businesses, workforce development groups and post-secondary institutions to better engage students.
That's welcome news considering many school districts in Lafayette and Green counties are facing growing financial funding gaps.
The grants would require the partnerships to design in-school and work-based programs in emerging industries. The bill prioritizes grants for rapidly growing industries and communities that have experienced significant job loss.
The bill requires the Department of Education to report to Congress on the effectiveness of the partnerships. The cost of the legislation is fully offset so as not to increase the federal deficit.
This part of the E4 initiative sounds like an idea worth pursuing, especially if it has a system of checks and balances and is at no extra cost to taxpayers.
