In 1983, the National Commission on Educational Excellence issued the following harsh evaluation: “If an unfriendly foreign power had tried to impose on America the mediocre educational performance that exists today, we would have considered it an act of war.”
This report served as a wake-up call for El Paso, Texas, and several years later led to the creation of the El Paso Collaborative for Academic Excellence (EPCAE). EPCAE brought together families, schools, and employers to address achievement gaps by raising standards, improving training, and strengthening college and career readiness. Thirty years after its inception, local high school graduation rates have increased by 76%. 476% at El Paso Community College; at the University of Texas at El Paso, 197%; Every year, thousands more students in the region come to school prepared to learn and leave school prepared for meaningful careers.
Today, a similar innovative approach is needed in Montgomery County. In 2022, Shady Grove University (USG) received startup funding from the Montgomery County Council to establish the READY Institute. Along with partners such as Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS), Montgomery University, Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation, and WorkSource Montgomery, we are creating the READY (Resilient Education for All, Designed for You) Institute. We believe that this is a revolutionary approach to data collection and collection. Analytics that help students better prepare for success in college and careers. One of the key factors is sustained funding from the county council to help it reach its full potential.
After working in universities for more than 30 years, including the past three and a half years as Executive Director of USG, I am committed to helping America's higher education system meaningfully engage with K-12 schools and collaborate with educational institutions. I have seen firsthand the challenges faced by You can assist potential employers or help students balance work and family responsibilities. This disconnect is neither fair nor sustainable. Students are forced to adapt to the institution. It should be the opposite.
USG works tirelessly to change that paradigm, and the READY Institute is a key component of our mission. We take a data-driven approach to academic success as well as career success. In fact, how much is a diploma really worth if students graduate without employer connections or the skills they need to succeed?
In Montgomery County, 91% of adults have graduated from high school, 78% have completed some postsecondary education, and the county's unemployment rate is 2.9%. But what these data don't tell us, and what the READY Institute can prove, is how students' academic courses ultimately impact their career paths.
How many job openings are there in the major sectors? Which occupations are growing fastest? What percentage of those jobs are filled by local graduates? Where are the gaps in talent supply? How can K-12 and higher education schools proactively address these gaps and adapt to the needs of students and employers in real time? Answering these questions The answer can make a huge difference between degrees and education, not to mention jobs and careers.
The READY Institute supports collaborative data sharing with public information from MCPS, Montgomery College, USG, and the University System of Maryland. As work progresses, interactive dashboards will display specific metrics and key performance indicators to better inform and update each partner on a regular basis. To date, we have begun data collection efforts, leveraged external consulting expertise, and conducted critical gap analysis to design career and academic pathways that effectively address these gaps. Masu.
A summit hosted by USG and the Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation in collaboration with Montgomery College, MCPS, WorkSource Montgomery and major area employers later this month will highlight these gaps and offer next steps. . Additional funding from the county will provide resources to more fully establish the READY Institute this year.
Schools at all levels have a responsibility to ensure that students are in the best possible position to succeed in the classroom and in life. MCPS, Montgomery College, and USG each individually bring a lot to the table. But by following El Paso's approach to more intentional collaboration and using data from the READY Institute as a collective guide, there is no limit to what we can accomplish together.
Ann Kademian is executive director of Shady Grove University and vice president for academic affairs for the University System of Maryland..