Mission: To develop the education and workforce development vision and mission of Associated Oregon Industries.

Goals: Conduct an assessment of existing plans for education and workforce development in Oregon.

• Identify areas where AOI may be an influential change agent without duplicating work already done or being done;
• Develop a strategy for change in Oregon’s education system and workforce preparedness of Oregon citizens.

40-40-20 Educational Attainment Goal

AOI Position:

AOI supports the goal of 40% of Oregon adults holding a bachelor’s degree or higher, another 40% holding an associate’s degree or other technical credential, and the remaining 20% a high school diploma that represents a high level of academic and work readiness skills.

For Oregon’s economy and its businesses to compete effectively in a globally competitive economy, its citizens and workers must be educated to much higher levels. Oregon’s economic and competitive success depends on efficient enterprises with an ample store of well-educated, skilled employees.

529 College Savings Early Incentive Program

AOI Position:

AOI supports the creation of an early incentive component to the 529 College Savings Program.

College costs are expected to outpace inflation and families will continue to share the largest burden of these costs. Oregon’s 529 College Savings Plan affords parents, guardians and others a tax deduction of up to $2,000 per year to set up a college expense savings account. Under the early incentive concept, the state contributes $250 to that account if it is set up before a child reaches his or her first birthday. This encourages families to begin routine savings at the earliest possible time and instills an expectation that the child is being prepared to succeed as an educated citizen.

Career Readiness Certificate

AOI Position:

AOI supports the creation of and funding support for the Career Readiness Certificate (CRC) by the state Department of Commu­nity Colleges and Workforce Development and its alignment with Oregon’s new high school diploma.

The CRC will verify an applicant’s “readiness for work” and show prospective employers that the employee meets certain minimum requirements (e.g. reading for information, applied mathematics and locating information). Moreover, aligning the essential skills and career-related learning standards of Oregon’s new high school graduation requirements with the basic competencies of the CRC will leave high school graduates better-prepared to enter the workforce and continue their post-secondary learning.

New High School Diploma Requirements

AOI Position:

AOI supports Oregon’s new high school diploma requirements and funding support to school districts to implement them through the School Improvement Fund.

Oregon’s new high school graduation requirements, phased in over the next seven years, will better prepare students for postsecondary education, work and citizenship. The School Improvement Fund, set up to provide funds to school districts for targeted purposes, should be used to assist school districts in implementing and measuring progress towards these new graduation requirements.

Pre-K-20 System Alignment

AOI Position:

AOI supports the alignment of the budgets, curriculum and student data of Oregon’s Pre-K-20 education system segments: pre-kindergarten, elementary/secondary, community colleges, universities and graduate schools.

Curriculum standards, proficiencies and assessments should be aligned across the continuum to prepare students for the next level. Student data should be uniform, integrated, and automated to facilitate efficient transfer of credits between schools within as well as between education segments. To help decision-makers shape priorities and make effective public investments, a unified, transparent and student-centered budget model should be created.

Pre-Kindergarten Education Program (Oregon Head Start)

AOI Position:

AOI supports increased funding for Oregon’s Pre-Kindergarten Education Program to assure availability of services for all eligible disadvantaged children.

Pre-kindergarten education programs greatly improve the chances for disadvantaged children to succeed in school and later in life. These programs offer pre-kindergarten education; access to medical, dental and nutrition services; parent education; and family support.

Targeted Workforce Investments

AOI Position:

AOI supports funding of targeted investments in high-demand areas that generate high-wage career opportunities and are critical for economic development: 

• Manufacturing, through the Manufacturing 21 Coalition’s policy and funding agenda; 
• Engineering, through the Engineering and Technology Industry Council’s (ETIC) funding agenda; 
• Clean technology, through the Governor’s Clean Technology Initiative funding agenda; and 
• Health care, through the Governor’s Health Occupation Initiative funding agenda.

Oregon will soon face critical shortages of skilled workers in areas that can offer high-wage employment: manufacturing, engineer­ing, clean technology and health care. Filling these shortages will keep Oregon competitive in the global economy and provide Oregon businesses with the talent they need to grow and compete.

Unemployment Insurance (UI) Wage Option Program

AOI Position:

AOI supports legislation creating the UI Wage Option Program.

Under the UI Wage Program, unemployment insurance trust funds are invested in on-the-job training and/or wage subsidies for UI claimants who would otherwise receive those funds for claim benefits support without securing employment. Preliminary estimates indicate that the concept will create a savings in program costs.