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Talent Portfolio Legislation Gains Committee Passage

Senate Bills 684-685, introduced by Senator Ken Horn (R-Frankenmuth) and Senator Peter MacGregor (R-Rockford) passed the Senate Economic Development and International Investment Committee last week and will now move to the Senate floor for a vote.

“It is estimated that the professional trades fields will add 15,000 new jobs each year through 2024; a trend that will only grow larger as the Baby Boomer generation retires,” said Delaney McKinley, MMA senior director of government affairs and membership. “This talent gap has now become a primary barrier to economic growth in Michigan.”

SBs 684-685 will require schools to help students document tangible and marketable career skills achieved during education. This “Talent Portfolio” will be developed and revised throughout the implementation of a student’s educational development plan. The bills would also require schools, as part of their school improvement plan, to provide robust career exploration and connection opportunities during grades K through 12.

“In order to counter this shift, we need to do a better job of building collaborative relationships between parents, students, teachers and employers to help reveal the many lucrative career pathways available to students and the skills possessed by Michigan’s future workforce,” said McKinley. “This legislation does that through clear evidence of a student’s success and achievement of essential career skills.”

This article originally appeared in the 1/23/18 issue of MFG Voice.

Contact Delaney McKinley

Delaney McKinleySenior Director of Government Affairs and Membership
Call 517-487-8530
E-mail mckinley@mimfg.org