October 27 – Few things are more important than providing our children with the education needed to succeed. Improving basic reading skills is fundamental to every aspect of learning. We must set reading benchmarks for all children and provide additional instruction so that all third graders are reading proficiently in Tennessee. Then we will enjoy dramatic improvement in all aspects of public education. Making sure these students receive the added instruction needed to advance is critical to making our schools better at every level.

For those who were unable to complete their education as a child, adult education programs can provide a second chance. In 2008, more than 14,500 Tennesseans earned a high school diploma equivalent. High school graduates are better qualified for the work force and are able to get better paying jobs, which can improve a family’s standard of living. Education is an important investment that will help increase the economic opportunities and earning potential of Tennessee families.

With an uncertain economy and new technological advances, not everyone stays on the same track that they first began. Some baby boomers will have held more than 10 jobs over the course of their professional life. Making a transition later in life can be challenging, but continuing education and retraining programs help workers shift into the next phase of their professional life.

Innovative education tools greatly improve the potential and training of tomorrow’s workforce, and include online and distance learning and dual enrollment, where high schools work with community colleges on courses that prepare our students for the jobs of the future. Workforce development should be an even greater goal than achievement tests because readying our students for a good family-wage job is where education meets the realities of family life in Tennessee.