Fair Share and Education Funding
June 22, 2017MBAE Position on Proposed Increases in State Education Funding
July 25, 2017In Massachusetts, most new jobs between 2010 and 2020 will require more than a high school diploma. High school graduates should be well-prepared to pursue opportunities in our fastest growing fields.
A Massachusetts Biotechnology Education Foundation job trends report released in June finds that the industry will need to fill 11,600 additional jobs by 2022 and notes that biotech-related job postings are increasing at a faster rate than Massachusetts higher education is growing the number of biotech-related degree graduates.
A 2014 report from the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education identified similar trends in the high tech field. It found a 17:1 ratio of IT and computer science related jobs to recent graduates holding related bachelor’s degrees and, a 6:1 ratio of IT and computer science related jobs to recent graduates holding related associate’s degrees.
The state’s elementary, middle and high schools play a pivotal role in ensuring that we have a pipeline to fill those positions and, more importantly, that students graduate prepared to take advantage of these great opportunities. Empowered school leaders, excellent teaching, a focus on essential 21st century knowledge and skills, a strong foundation in math and communication as well as science and technology, adequate funding and highly efficient use of those funds are all critical components that enable schools to achieve those goals.
We can and must make improvements in all of those areas. That’s what MBAE is working on and we hope you will join us.