Senate Passes Workforce Development Bill That Creates New Government Positions

A major workforce development bill has been approved by the Indiana Senate on the last day for measures to pass out of that chamber.  It would do a number of things to amp up the state’s workforce, including creating a new state position to be appointed by the governor.  Indiana Public Broadcasting’s Jeanie Lindsay reports.

The Secretary of Workforce Training would also head a new State Board for Technical Education, which will work in addition to the State Department of Education, and existing Board of Education.

But all the moving pieces drove Sen. Eddie Melton (D-Gary) to say,“We have to figure out a way to get a little bit more streamlined.”

Part of the bill requires schools to work with career and technical education programs, for students to earn credentials in their first year out of high school. That would start with the class of 2023, or this year’s 7th graders. It also aims to connect schools with businesses for career coaching.

The bill’s author, Sen. Doug Eckerty (R-Yorktown), says that could help take some pressure off school guidance counselors.

“Our guidance counselors are pretty swamped with helping kids get on a college track, and with the emotional issues and societal issues, and they’re just out of time,” he said.