Ohio, like many other states, is in need of an increasingly educated workforce. In 2018, only 49.2% of Ohioans had earned a high-value credential or degree – nowhere close to the 65% goal Ohio set for itself.
Complete to Compete is a public-private coalition of more than 40 member organizations committed to helping more Ohioans attain the high-value credentials and postsecondary degrees they need to earn a living
wage, secure in-demand jobs, and close the Ohio skills gap. The coalition has been working for over a year to develop an attainment plan. MorraLee Keller, director of technical assistance for NCAN has been a working member of the coalition.
“During this past year, NCAN placed attainment as a critical goal, and now Ohio has too. I am fortunate to get to support these efforts for my organization and for my home state,” says Keller.
The coalition’s new report/plan, “Bridging Ohio’s Workforce Gap,” charts a path forward. The plan, released today, prescribes
collaborative action based on five principles: equity-centered, learner-focused, workforce-aligned, partnership-led, and success-driven.
Coalition organizations will work together and identify other key partners to lead this work. Some of the work will be new, some will entail better and more efficient collaborations, and some will involve promoting these efforts to all Ohioans.
The plan contains five major areas of focus. Those include:
Make Attainment Highly Valued: Helping Ohioans better understand how earning a new high-value credential or postsecondary degree will better prepare them for career success and improve their quality of life can help build the motivation to
pursue additional education.
Align Education and Business: Education institutions must teach the skills employers need, employers must let education institutions know what those skills are, and students of all ages must be exposed to work-based learning options.
Increase Access and Affordability: Create and communicate affordable routes to degrees and credentials to allow Ohioans to access and complete their education, in person or remotely, with minimal or no debt.
Advance Academic Success and Completion: Strong supports, effective educators, and increased guidance can help ensure Ohioans finish degree and certificate programs successfully, on time, and with the skills they need to contribute in the workplace
on day one.
Foster Regional Partnerships: Different parts of the state often have different economic needs, and many local efforts exist to pool resources, ideas, and talents to drive their region’s success. Strengthening our existing partnerships and
creating more local, multisector partnerships can help address local workforce and education needs and accelerate attainment.
The coalition continues to develop actions to support the strategies in each section of the plan. Reaching Ohio’s attainment goal will require statewide effort. This plan is only the beginning; determining resources and policy needs will be the next steps.
As NCAN continues to keep federal and state policy in the pillars of our work, this plan will be an excellent model to share with other states as everyone heads toward attainment goals.
NCAN would like to acknowledge our member organizations that also participate in the coalition: College Now Greater Cleveland, I Know I Can, and Summit Education Initiative.
There is much work to be done, so let’s get started.
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