Prepared Remarks by U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos to the U.S. Conference of Mayors
Thank
you, Mayor Christopher Cabaldon, for that kind introduction. And thank you
for your leadership on the Conference’s Jobs, Education and Workforce
committee. I’m honored to be here today with this group of city leaders and I
know each of your communities is deeply interested in the work you do here and
what we’ll discuss today.
Yours are
perhaps the most hands-on jobs in public service. You serve people directly…
when the snow needs plowing, the garbage needs collecting or the lights need
fixing, you are the first line
of contact.
The
people you all serve are interested in solutions.
And I must say, I’ve always believed solutions are best developed by those
closest to the issue – by states, by your cities, by families.
In
education, we’ve seen valiant efforts at reform from Republicans and Democrats,
liberals, conservatives and everyone in between.
Education
is not and should not be a partisan issue. Because
everyone is aiming for the same result.
Everyone wants
students to be prepared and to lead successful lives.
We
can’t say that sort of public harmony exists in other policy
arenas. Not everyone agrees about the outcome or goal of tax policy or energy
policy or immigration policy.
Our
unity of purpose here presents an opportunity.
Parents
know that we need solutions for today’s education problems. And they recognize
how little education has changed since they
were students.
Does
this sound familiar to anyone? Students lined up in rows. A teacher up front,
framed by a blackboard (or perhaps a “smartboard” today). Sit down; don’t talk;
eyes front. Wait for the bell. Walk to the next class. And… repeat.
That’s
what it was like for me, and I bet it was true for many – if not all – of you
too. In fact, it hasn’t changed much since the 1800s. It’s no wonder many
employers are hard-pressed to find employees with 21st century
skills when they’re being taught in a 19th century model.
Today,
across states and industries, there are 6 million job openings,
as the “blue collar” jobs of yesterday become the “blue tech” jobs of today.
Coding is as common and necessary a skill today as riveting or stamping was a
few decades back. But employers – many
in your communities – report that they cannot find qualified people to fill
those openings. Those jobs require specific skill sets and customized
certification.
There
is a fundamental disconnect between education and the economy. Far too many
students are simply unprepared.
As
mayors, you’re in a position of proximity to help fix that. You know your community and you know your constituents. You know
what kinds of people are needed for the new plant or enterprise that is opening
or expanding in your city. And you probably know a few folks who, with
additional education, could thrive in some of those jobs.
We
need more of a collaborative spirit. We need more opportunities to
come together and find solutions. And let me be clear: those solutions won’t originate
in Washington, D.C. For too long, people in D.C. have acted like they have all
the answers – and they still try to.
But
Washington should focus less on trying to tell cities and states what to do,
and instead focus on convening people who are actually getting it done in
cities and states. To, in turn, share what works broadly for others to emulate
or improve upon.
To
that end, I’m pleased to co-chair a Task Force on apprenticeships with
Secretary of Labor Alex Acosta with the goal of bringing together institutions
of higher education, schools and businesses to spark discussion – and
ultimately action on local
levels.
And
you have the power to convene local efforts with business
leaders, entrepreneurial educators, parents and students. You can help broaden horizons and encourage everyone to
embrace multiple pathways to success after high school.
I’m
reminded of a recent conversation I had with the Israeli ambassador to the
United States. He posed a rather provocative question: “Why hasn’t America’s
higher ed bubble burst?” He was baffled as to why America’s businesses haven’t simply
stepped in to create their own education programs to equip individuals with the
necessary skills, instead of relying on others to get it right for them. In
many other parts of the world, employers
and educators work hand-in-hand to line up the skills required with those
actually taught.
When
it comes to higher education, too many implicitly or explicitly suggest there
is only one path to success. That must stop!
There
are many avenues to gain what individual students want and what employers need:
industry-recognized certificates, two-year degrees, stackable credits, credentials
and licensures, advanced degrees, badges, four-year degrees, micro-degrees,
apprenticeships…
All of
these are valid pursuits. Each should be embraced as such. If it’s the right
fit for the student, then it’s the right education. No stigma should follow a
student’s journey to success.
Learning
should be life long, not ended arbitrarily at age 22. The reality is that most
Americans will have a dozen or more jobs over the course of their lifetimes, often
very different from one another. We all know that most graduates don’t go to
work in the field in which they studied anyway.
Our
approach must reflect the realities of today’s economy, with an eye toward tomorrow’s
opportunities.
So,
how do we do that?
From
their youngest years, our children need something drastically different than
the 19th century assembly-line approach. They need learning environments that
are agile, relevant, exciting. They need a customized, self-paced, and challenging education.
Think
for a minute about this: what descriptors sound more like our current approach
to education? Adaptable, nimble, dynamic. Or structure, conformity, compliance?
I think we all know the unfortunate reality, and it’s leaving students
unprepared.
Instead,
each student must be prepared
at every turn for what comes next.
They must learn broadly transferrable and versatile skills like critical
thinking. Collaboration. Communication. Creativity. Cultural intelligence.
Students
need to be prepared for professions not yet imagined. The pace of technological
change and the increasing interconnectivity of the global economy demands individuals
who are continually learning and adapting.
Our
children and their futures
demand that we fundamentally reorient our approach to education. We need a
paradigm shift… a rethink.
“Rethink”
means we question everything
to ensure nothing limits a
student from pursuing his or her passion, and achieving his or her potential.
This
means focusing less on the school building or the school funding stream and
more on each individual student.
You
have an important role to play here.
You
can seize the opportunity to truly transform education. Embrace the imperative
to do something bold… to challenge the status quo… to break the mold.
Rethinking
education will only happen when those closest to students are empowered to make
the decisions that are best
for them. And with the Every Student Succeeds Act, it is possible to make that
happen. So do it!
You
need to be involved in that process, directly. How many of you have been asked
to, or have on your own, studied your state’s ESSA plan? If you haven’t, you
should. And you should let your governor and state chief school officer know
your thoughts. Share your local insights. Tell them what families in your community need.
Let’s
all commit again today to helping ensure every
child in America, in every
community, from every walk of
life, has equal access to a world-class education.
Thank
for all you do, and I look forward to talking about how we can continue to work
together.
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