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“How can Indiana transform its education system to better prepare students for both college and the workforce?”
I served on my local school board in my hometown for 10 years and created hundreds of Hoosier jobs as a Main Street entrepreneur. I know firsthand how intertwined education is with our workforce.
Over 50% of our state’s budget is spent on K-12 education, which means we don’t have a spending problem. Rather, through transparency—which will be a hallmark of my administration—we need to make sure these dollars find their way to the classroom so our children can read, write and do arithmetic, before moving on to the next grade.
Additionally, we need to make sure parents are engaged and heard, as they are the primary stakeholders in their children’s education. Every family, regardless of income or ZIP code, should be able to enroll in a school of their choice and pursue a curriculum that prepares their child for a career, college or the military.
Our education system needs to make sure those who want to pursue a four-year degree are properly prepared for these challenges when they graduate from high school. Furthermore, when it comes to four-year degrees, we need to produce more STEM degrees because the market is asking for that.
While higher education is important, it shouldn’t be the sole purpose of our schools. We also need to foster learning opportunities for those who want to pursue a career in welding, plumbing, manufacturing and well-paying technical jobs that do not require a four-year degree. Many of these careers are available now at a great starting salary.
Touring all 92 counties every year, I’ve seen great examples of career and technical education programs in high schools that prepare students to hit the ground running in jobs that Hoosier manufacturers need filled today. Far too many of our high school graduates are not prepared to enter the workforce or pursue a degree.
Indiana should be partnering with homegrown industries and businesses to help mentor and train individuals who pursue a four-year degree and those who immediately enter the workforce through a technical job.
As your next governor, I am going to focus on education policies to ensure that all our children are able to pursue their goals, parents are in the driver’s seat of their own kids’ education, and our education system is nimble, accountable and innovative in preparing Hoosier kids for their next step.•
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Braun, a Republican, was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2018. Before that, he was the founder and CEO of Jasper-based Meyer Distributing. Send comments on this column to ibjedit@ibj.com.
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Yes!! 100% school vouchers for ALL children through their parents to choose the school of THEIR choice!
Also, engage with the labor unions and businesses in each county to fund even more money in private vochers so that poor kids with ability are not denied special resources for them to capitalize on those abilities!
Lastly, our committment to educate is to the CHILDREN and the PARENTS….not the “Education establishment” which is more concerned with “woke” and indoctrination than a useful education!