Go get that job! [Excerpt]
Advice from pros on how to move from school into ag careers
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Senator seeks to boost ag education
An amendment seeking to improve educational opportu- nities in agriculture for some students before they reach college has been added to the proposed Strengthening America’s Schools Act of 2013.
The amendment was put forth by U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.). The proposed legislation, including Baldwin’s amendment, was passed out of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee last month. Under the Strengthening America’s Schools Act, states would be awarded grants “to continue to build teacher capacity and allow access for low-income stu- dents to a well-rounded education” in areas such as the arts, financial literacy, civics and music, according to a statement from the senator’s office.
Baldwin’s amendment added “agricultural edu- cation programs” to the list of covered subjects. The grant program would require states “to identify and target gaps in low-income students’ access to a high-quality, well-rounded educa- tion,” including in the selection of courses and the quality of standards and curricula, the state- ment said.
“Agriculture education programs concentrate on the development of essential technical skills that are vital to the success of people entering a career in agriculture,” Baldwin explained. “These secondary-school programs educate students for their future careers, as well as impart vital life skills.”
The grants will support the future of agriculture education and of agri- culture in general, she noted. “Wisconsin has a rich agriculture tradition that has been carried on from generation to generation. I believe it is important that we support and invest in innovative agricultural education programs so we can continue to carry on that tradition.”
The Strengthening America’s Schools Act would replace the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. Baldwin said she’s hopeful the new legislation will move forward in this Congress.
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