The Governor's Office in Austin, Texas, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and the Texas Workforce Commission are coming together to expedite the time it takes students to earn a certification for high-skilled fields of work. Governor Rick Perry announced their plan known as the Skilled Workforce Initiative this past Tuesday in Harlingen, Texas. Many certifications will be obtained quicker by using competency-based tests to prevent students from being lectured upon subjects they have already mastered. This quicker, more efficient means of obtaining a certification is a result of the demand for more high skilled workers in numerous industries.
Recently the manufacturing sector in Texas has seen job demand almost double in just the past three years. Furthermore the industry is projected to grow by 10 percent by 2020. In order to keep up with the demands and growth of the many industries in Texas, more high skilled workers will be needed faster.
The framework of technical training is being developed by the Texas State Technical College System along side its fellow state agencies and Texas' industrial employers. The model will be sure to produce the same high quality trained workers as before but in less time. It will also be more affordable and will be targeted to very specific skills in demand. Skills that workers already have will be considered and credited to certifications.
The first effort with the initiative will target jobs for advanced manufacturing and industrial business sectors. The design of the program however will be very versatile and may be applied to any other industry or sector. Once an industry's needs are met the program will be adjusted accordingly.
Specific groups such as veterans, displaced workers, and career-focused high school graduates will be targeted by the initiative to maximize their potential for the job market. Many of these candidates for jobs have experience and training but no certification. This initiative hopes to change that and get more Texans employed.
The College Credit 4 Heroes program launched earlier this year specifically rewards veterans for the training they have received, during their military service, through institutions and some community colleges. This is a great example of using a competency-based approach to consolidate course requirements to arrive at a degree or certification.
Sen. Dan Patrick, the Texas Chair of the Senate Education Committee, was praised by Governor Perry after he sent a letter to the State Board of Education encouraging them to double the number of approved Career Tech courses available to students in Texas. These courses prepare students to be ready to work upon graduating in numerous fields. With the efforts of all of these committees, boards, commissions, and agencies, Texas is well on it's way to broadening the opportunities for potential employees and employers. Competency-based certifications should help Texans quickly receive skills to meet our state's growing industry demands.
Thursday, November 29, 2012
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Why is the IRS Uninterested in Enforcing Policy?
I recently read my fellow classmate's blog, The Texas Political Fix, and the last entry was quite intriguing. Church in the Valley in Leakey, Texas put a message on their outdoor sign that said "Vote for the Mormon, not the Muslim! The capitalist, not the communist!". The article may be read here, it is titled "You Can't Have Your Cake and Eat It, Too". I agree with and would like to expand upon my classmate's assertions.
According to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) website there is a restriction of political campaign intervention by Section 501(c)(3) of tax-exempt organizations. Under the Internal Revenue Code all 501(c)(3) organizations are absolutely prohibited from directly or indirectly participating in, or intervening in any political campaign on behalf of or in opposition to any candidate for elective public office.
The policy goes on to say that public statements of position either verbal or written (which was seen in this case), made by an organization in favor of or against any candidate for public office clearly violates the prohibition against political campaign activity. Such violation may result in denial or revocation of tax-exempt status and the imposition of certain excise taxes.
My classmate is correct that the IRS should investigate the legitimacy of the tax-exempt status of this church according to it's policies. However it is rare that an investigation leads to any reprimanding. Since the founding of the country until 1954 when Lyndon Baines Johnson was re-elected as Senator, churches were openly allowed to be in favor or against any candidate for public offices. LBJ proposed the legislation that stands today, which as stated above, disallows churches to publicly endorse a candidate. Since 1954 only one church has had their tax-exempt status revoked. The revocation occurred in result of the opinions expressed about the 1992 presidential election. A church had articles published in The Washington Times and USA Today against Bill Clinton.
Even if the IRS were to investigate the church in Leakey, TX, it is likely no real consequence would be dealt. So now the question is why does the IRS choose to remain quiet? An estimated total of 539 pastors participated in Pulpit Freedom Sunday last year, which is an annual event that intentionally provokes the IRS to take legal action against churches to consider the matter of free speech and religion in a court of law. No suits have been filed yet.
Friday, November 2, 2012
Support Gov. Perry In Making College Timely Efficient & More Affordable
Texas Governor, Rick Perry, has expressed his proposal to make higher education more affordable, increase enrollment to compete with other populous states, and create incentives for education institutions to develop faster graduation rates. I believe he has upstanding ideas that may influence more students to pursue higher education.
The number of high school students taking the SAT exam has climbed significantly over the past five years. More specifically these large increases are being seen in minority groups. Statistics are showing increases of 65% in Hispanic students, 42% in African American students, and 29% in Asian students.
This significant increase in desire for higher education in Texas is great news and quite a change since 2000 when Perry first took office. At that time Texas had a lower percentage of students enrolled in college compared to the next ten most populous states. To compete with these other populous states the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) adopted the "closing the gaps" plan in 2000 to challenge higher education institutions to increase enrollment by 630,000 by the year 2015.
In June 2012 THECB released its annual progress report of their "closing the gaps" plan. Since 2000 533,000 more students have enrolled in higher education institutions, the state is now above the target to reach their goal for 2015. Texas is now proving to be producing more college-minded individuals.
Governor Perry wants to put a freeze on four-year tuition expenses to lock in the same amount from freshman to what should be senior year, thus making college more affordable. This would encourage more students to complete a baccalaureate degree within four years with less debt accrued.
Less than 30% of students at Texas' four-year institutions actually graduate within four years.
Only 58% obtain their degree within six years.
In order to improve these graduation rates Governor Perry has developed an incentive plan to encourage institutions by mandating 10% of their state funding will be dependent on how many students are obtaining degrees. If they fail to provide proper resources to efficiently graduate students, they will lose money.
Governor Perry also wants higher education institutions to be more transparent about the cost of graduating within four, five, or six years. This would potentially encourage students and their parents to be more responsible about using their time and money wisely.
Overall by making higher education more affordable and timely efficient there will be decreases in the amount of debt Texans will have when starting their post-college lives.
The number of high school students taking the SAT exam has climbed significantly over the past five years. More specifically these large increases are being seen in minority groups. Statistics are showing increases of 65% in Hispanic students, 42% in African American students, and 29% in Asian students.
This significant increase in desire for higher education in Texas is great news and quite a change since 2000 when Perry first took office. At that time Texas had a lower percentage of students enrolled in college compared to the next ten most populous states. To compete with these other populous states the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) adopted the "closing the gaps" plan in 2000 to challenge higher education institutions to increase enrollment by 630,000 by the year 2015.
In June 2012 THECB released its annual progress report of their "closing the gaps" plan. Since 2000 533,000 more students have enrolled in higher education institutions, the state is now above the target to reach their goal for 2015. Texas is now proving to be producing more college-minded individuals.
Governor Perry wants to put a freeze on four-year tuition expenses to lock in the same amount from freshman to what should be senior year, thus making college more affordable. This would encourage more students to complete a baccalaureate degree within four years with less debt accrued.
Less than 30% of students at Texas' four-year institutions actually graduate within four years.
Only 58% obtain their degree within six years.
In order to improve these graduation rates Governor Perry has developed an incentive plan to encourage institutions by mandating 10% of their state funding will be dependent on how many students are obtaining degrees. If they fail to provide proper resources to efficiently graduate students, they will lose money.
Governor Perry also wants higher education institutions to be more transparent about the cost of graduating within four, five, or six years. This would potentially encourage students and their parents to be more responsible about using their time and money wisely.
Overall by making higher education more affordable and timely efficient there will be decreases in the amount of debt Texans will have when starting their post-college lives.
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