The National Governors Association today announced that Gov. Jay Inslee will again co-lead the group’s Education & Workforce Committee, one of five standing NGA committees responsible for governors’ collective, bipartisan advocacy on federal policies.
In addition to early childhood education, K -12 and higher education, the committee also explores issues related to workforce development and career-connected learning such as apprenticeships and work-based education.
Inslee has served as the committee’s chairman during the past three years and his newest term runs until Summer 2019. Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson will serve alongside Inslee as co-chairman.
“The United States is experiencing enormously disruptive shifts in our economy. We must continue to redefine and rethink our education and workforce systems to ensure economic security for our workers and companies,” Inslee said. “Washington state is one of the top economies in the nation and a big part of that is our investments in our people, particularly when it comes to education. I look forward to working with my fellow governors on ways to promote early learning and encourage the expansion of career-connected learning opportunities. These efforts are so crucial to opening up career pathways for each and every one of our nation’s students.”
Washington state is known nationally for having one of the most generous financial aid programs for helping low-income students pay for college. Inslee helped lead a historic expansion of early learning and all-day kindergarten in his state. And last year, Inslee launched Career Connect Washington, an initiative to partner with leading business industries to develop career-connected learning opportunities in high-demand fields.
NGA’s Education and Workforce Committee is currently playing a leading role on reauthorization of the Higher Education Act (HEA) and the Perkins Career and Technical Education Act. The committee is also working with Congress and the Trump Administration to ensure that implementation of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) works for all of Washington's students, educators and schools.