South Carolina Future Minds, Innovation for Public Education

Raising the bar

S.C. Chamber releases 2020 education goals

 By Otis B. Rawl, Jr.
President and CEO, S.C. Chamber of Commerce

JAN. 8, 2010 -- For many years, preparing our state’s future workforce has been a major initiative of the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce.  If employees are successful, the state is successful. While we are making some strides in education, our competition is not resting on their laurels either.

In business, leaders understand the importance of establishing goals to drive their company’s success. Our education system should be no different. In this spirit, the South Carolina Chamber’s Excellence in Education Council and Board of Directors have developed 10 overarching education goals the state should meet or exceed by 2020.

• 99 percent of high school students will have electronic Individual Graduation Plans (eIGP). Individual graduation plans are a key component of the Education and Economic Development Act, passed in 2005 by the South Carolina General Assembly.  eIGPs can greatly influence dropout rates by committing students to a plan for graduation and involving parents in the process. During the last school year, 97 percent of eighth, ninth and tenth graders developed an eIGP.  

• 85 percent of South Carolina high school students will graduate on time as measured by the U.S. Department of Education’s Uniform Graduation Rate formula. This summer, Education Week released its 2009 Diploma Counts on-time graduation rate data, and South Carolina had the highest percentage increase of any state between 1996 and 2006, now ranking 37th in the nation. The State Department of Education, using the Uniform Graduation Rate formula, reports South Carolina’s 2009 on-time graduation rate to be 74.9 percent, and we must continue this momentum.

• 80 percent of South Carolina four-year-old, at-risk youth (on free and reduced lunch) will complete 4-K. Research shows high-quality preschool enhances a child’s cognitive growth and future educational success.  Recent census estimates calculate the total four-year-old population in South Carolina at 59,192, with 65 percent qualifying for Medicaid or either free or reduced lunch. In 2007-08, about 58% of these children were served by some form of public pre-K.

• South Carolina will be a top five state in average 4th and 8th grade student NAEP score improvement. The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) assessments for reading, math and science are administered uniformly using the same sets of test booklets across the nation, providing a clear picture of student academic progress over time.  Right now, South Carolina ranks near the national average.

• 50 percent reduction of the student achievement gap on PASS testing from 2009 results. The achievement gap is defined as the difference in achievement between a historically lower-scoring demographic group and a historically higher-scoring group at various performance levels. This gap must be reduced to ensure success for all future workers.

• All high school seniors will have a WorkKeys (including soft skills) certificate.  WorkKeysCertification, accompanied by a high school diploma or GED, provides invaluable information to employers about skill level and job readiness of students.

• 15,000 GEDs (including WorkKeys certification) will be awarded annually. Based on census data, South Carolina has a little more than 2.7 million working-age (18 to 64) adults. Almost 16% have not completed high school or obtained a GED. By 2020, South Carolina should reduce this percentage to 10 percent.

• South Carolina will have 10 times more businesses offering registered apprenticeships from 2009. South Carolina has historically underutilized registered apprenticeships. Since the 2007 establishment of the South Carolina Technical College’s Apprenticeship Carolina™ division, significant progress has been made. At the close of 2009, the state had more than 1,500 apprentices in 190+ programs. 

• South Carolina will exceed the national average for adults holding two or four-year degrees. Currently, 29 percent of South Carolina adults hold two or four-year degrees while the national average is 39 percent.

• South Carolina will have a clear, coherent standardized pathway for adults to further their education. A system of stackable certificates will change the dynamics of learning for adults, encouraging more to enhance their education.

We understand achievement of our 2020 goals is a marathon, not a sprint, and it will require continued concerted action between the business and education communities. Just as businesses work with suppliers, we consider ourselves full partners with those responsible for developing our future workforce.

Otis B. Rawl, Jr. is president and chief executive officer of the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce, the state’s unified voice of business.