Ensure graduates of Pennsylvania's high schools are career ready
"Pennsylvania's children deserve every opportunity to succeed when they enter our public school system; they deserve to enter a public school system that isn't just adequate, but world-class."- Governor Tom Wolf
Why is this goal important?
Pennsylvania's economic future depends on our education system to equip high school graduates with the knowledge, skills, and experiences they need to succeed in the workforce. All students in the commonwealth – regardless of zip code – should have access to a K-12 education that prepares them for post-secondary success, whether their plans include higher education, workforce training, paid employment, or another career pathway.
What are we working on to reach this goal?
Education is Governor
Wolf's top priority. Since taking office, he has invested more than $1.8 billion
in schools, including $1.4 billion in funding for pre-K through college, nearly
$800 million for basic education, and $140 million for special education. The
governor signed the fair funding formula into law in 2015 to help address
chronic inequitable and inadequate funding for school districts in the
commonwealth. Governor Wolf has invested $40 million in science, computer
science, and technical education, including the innovative PAsmart program, and $8 million in apprenticeships and
workforce training. To prevent students from falling behind and better prepare
them for a career, Governor Wolf reduced the compulsory attendance age for schools to six
and raised the high school dropout age to 18. Taking action to ensure the safety and well-being of
students, the Wolf Administration established a School Safety Task Force and invested $40 million is School
Safety Grants to make schools and school communities safer.
How are we doing?
The table below presents data from the 2017-18 school year on the College and Career Measures from the Future Ready PA Index, a public-facing,
one-stop location for comprehensive information and data on student and school
success. The College and Career Measures are indicators of how well students are being prepared for post-secondary success. For more information, please visit the Future Ready PA Index website.
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