Louisiana has seen a remarkable improvement in its education system in recent years. Graduation rates and ACT scores have been steadily increasing, and the gap between school performance is narrowing. The state has also implemented more school choice options than most other states, and traditional public schools are responding to the competition by offering additional courses such as Course Access and more relevant technical training through programs like JumpStart. Louisiana Economic Development (LED) is responsible for creating a more dynamic economy and strengthening the business environment in the state. In order to ensure that Louisiana students are on par with their peers from other states, the state has adopted a “proficiency” level of student competence in assessments, rather than the current “basic” one.
This means that students must demonstrate a higher level of knowledge and skills in order to be considered proficient. This shift in focus has been beneficial for businesses in Northern Louisiana, as it has allowed them to access a larger pool of qualified workers. It is also important to include the voice and perspective of Louisiana employers in all top-down efforts related to workforce development. This system must be tailored to each region of the state, providing a mix of special workforce training programs, vocational and technical training, industry-based certifications, two-year associate degrees, and advanced degrees.
It should also be able to quickly respond to changes in business. Businesses in Northern Louisiana have seen a positive impact from the increased proficiency level of students. Companies are now able to access a larger pool of qualified workers who are better prepared for the job market. This has allowed businesses to expand their operations and hire more employees. Additionally, businesses have been able to reduce their training costs as they no longer need to invest as much time and money into teaching new employees basic skills. The improved education system has also had an impact on the local economy.
With more qualified workers entering the job market, businesses have been able to increase their productivity and profits. This has led to an increase in wages for employees, which has helped boost the local economy. Furthermore, businesses have been able to invest more money into research and development, which has led to new products and services that can help create jobs. Overall, the increased proficiency level of students in Northern Louisiana has had a positive impact on businesses in the region. Companies have been able to access a larger pool of qualified workers who are better prepared for the job market.
This has allowed businesses to expand their operations and hire more employees while reducing their training costs. Additionally, businesses have been able to increase their productivity and profits, which has helped boost the local economy.
