Historic increase in education funding helps drive a ‘Big Bold Future’ for Kentucky

LEXINGTON, Ky -- Congratulations to Gov. Andy Beshear on an inspiring and unifying State of the Commonwealth Address. Congratulations are also due for the many accomplishments in job creation and expansion of critical infrastructure like broadband and roads.

The Prichard Committee pledges to do its part to realize the Governor’s aspirations for the future of the state by continuing to work to ensure every Kentuckian has access to a meaningful education that imparts the knowledge and individual skills necessary to strengthen today’s workforce – and to be the job creators of Kentucky’s future.

We share the governor’s optimism that when Kentuckians work together toward shared goals, we have what it takes to build a better commonwealth for every family. In fact, we’ve proven that is true with education improvements of the past – and we must renew that commitment to stronger outcomes, with urgency, in the immediate years ahead.

With the 2025 General Assembly session upon us, top priorities to realize such improvements, include:

• Ensuring access to advanced coursework so Kentucky students prepared for higher level learning can excel; this is critical for the future of STEM fields like space science, advanced manufacturing, and healthcare.  
• Continuing to strengthen postsecondary education – where individuals and families gain skills for the workforce and realize increased social mobility as a result – which, in turn, strengthens our P12 education outcomes.  
• Broadening access to childcare for working families by creating the conditions for the small, often women-owned, business to grow, particularly in areas of the state where far too little high-quality childcare exists.

We look forward to working with the Governor and the General Assembly to make the vision of a big, bold future for every Kentuckian a reality.

Report shows employers value durable skills such as critical thinking and collaboration  

LEXINGTON, Ky -- The Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence today released results of the 2024 Meaningful Diploma Employer Survey, offering critical insights into the workforce readiness of Kentucky’s high school graduates. Based on responses from over 600 employers across more than 20 industries in the state, the report provides a detailed examination of employers' confidence in graduate preparedness, the value of durable skills, and opportunities to strengthen school-business partnerships.

"Kentucky's high school diploma must be evidence that Kentucky’s high school students are prepared for post-high school success," said Prichard Committee President and CEO Brigitte Blom. "While we celebrate Kentucky’s high graduation rate, the reality is that too many students leave high school without the academic knowledge, career preparation, and durable skills needed to succeed in college and the workforce. Ensuring Kentucky’s high school diploma is meaningful is about giving every Kentucky student genuine opportunities for economic mobility, strengthening our talent pipeline, and ensuring our state's future prosperity. This work is essential not just for individual student success, but for breaking cycles of poverty, building generational wealth in our communities, and positioning Kentucky as a leader in both postsecondary attainment and workforce participation."

The findings shed light on gaps in workforce readiness while outlining opportunities for education and business leaders to collaborate on solutions that ensure graduates are equipped for post-secondary success—whether pursuing higher education or entering the workforce.

Key Findings from the Report:

• Employer Confidence in Graduate Preparedness
  While 56% of Kentucky employers report moderate to high confidence in the preparedness of recent high school graduates, only 12% express strong confidence, with 14% reporting none. Employers identified significant gaps in essential workplace competencies, such as professionalism, critical thinking, and communication, with less than 10% rating graduates as well-prepared in these areas.

• The Importance of Durable Skills
  Durable skills, including professionalism, work ethic, interpersonal skills, and emotional intelligence, are viewed as critical for success by 78.5% of employers. The findings underscore the importance of integrating these skills into K-12 education to better prepare students for life beyond high school.

• Untapped Potential in Work-Based Learning
  Practical work experience is highly valued by employers, yet only 21.4% currently offer these opportunities. Encouragingly, over 54% of employers expressed a willingness to provide work-based learning, signaling significant potential to expand real-world learning opportunities for students.

• School-Business Partnerships
  Collaboration between schools and businesses is viewed as essential by 83.7% of employers surveyed. However, only half of respondents have engaged with K-12 schools, and less than 20% report frequent interactions. Employers showed strong interest in partnering on curriculum development (55%) and supporting career preparation initiatives (65%), highlighting the need for stronger communication and coordination.

• Barriers to Workforce Readiness Programs
  The report identifies key challenges in implementing workforce readiness programs, including a lack of qualified instructors or mentors (50%), student engagement challenges (45.8%), and scheduling coordination difficulties (45.1%).

“The postsecondary transition and workforce landscape has shifted dramatically,” said Delaney Stephens, Prichard Committee Director of Policy for Meaningful Diplomas. “Today's high school graduates are making different choices than their predecessors did just a few years ago. More are heading straight into the workforce or combining work with further education. This makes it more important than ever that a high school diploma represents real preparation for success, whether a graduate's next step is college, career, or both.”

The 2024 Meaningful Diploma Employer Survey reveals a clear need for stronger alignment between Kentucky’s education system and workforce demands. By addressing gaps in graduate preparedness, expanding work-based learning opportunities, and fostering robust school-business partnerships, Kentucky can ensure all graduates are equipped to thrive in the modern workforce.

"The findings of this survey highlight both the challenges and opportunities before us," said Blom. "It’s a call to action for educators, policymakers, and the business community to come together and develop innovative strategies that will prepare every student for a successful post-high school pathway."

The full report is available for download here.  

For more information on how employers and schools are working toward creating meaningful and relevant educational experiences in Kentucky communities, visit the Prichard Committee’s Meaningful Diploma Spotlight series here.

Every year, thousands of high school students throughout Kentucky walk across graduation stages, diplomas in hand. It's a proud moment for families, educators, and communities. But what does that diploma really mean for the futures of these graduates?  

Today, the Prichard Committee released findings from our 2024 Meaningful Diploma Employer Survey, offering key insights into how Kentucky's business community views high school graduates’ preparation. The survey, gathering perspectives from more than 600 employers and industry representatives across 20+ industries, comes at a critical moment as Kentucky business and education leaders examine what a Kentucky high school diploma should mean and what standards matter most.

This was the question that drove us to reach out to Kentucky's business community. We wanted to hear directly from the people who are hiring our graduates, working alongside them, and depending on their skills to drive our state's economy forward.  

More than 600 employers across Kentucky shared their insights with us, and their message was clear: while we're getting many things right, there's work to be done to ensure a Kentucky high school diploma opens doors to real opportunities and equips graduates with the credentials and skills they need to succeed.

The World Our Graduates Are Entering

The postsecondary transition and workforce landscape has shifted dramatically. Today's high school graduates are making different choices than their predecessors did just a few years ago. More are heading straight into the workforce or combining work with further education. This makes it more important than ever that a high school diploma represents real preparation for success, whether a graduate's next step is college, career, or both.

What We're Hearing from Employers

The feedback from Kentucky’s business community is both concerning and hopeful: only about 1 in 8 employers feel strongly confident in our recent graduates' workplace readiness. As one manufacturing leader put it, "We see plenty of diplomas, but we're seeing gaps in both academic preparation and workplace readiness skills. Our graduates need stronger foundations in both areas to be truly prepared for success.”

Employers say they're seeing gaps in crucial areas like communication, critical thinking, and workplace etiquette – the kinds of skills that can make or break someone's career success.

The Good News: Employers Want to Help

Here's what's encouraging: Kentucky's business community isn't just pointing out concerns – they're eager to be part of the solution. In addition to the 21.8% of employers that say they already offer work-based learning opportunities like internships and apprenticeships, more than half of employers who aren't currently offering these experiences say they are very willing to. As one healthcare industry executive shared, "We see tremendous opportunity to partner with schools and help prepare students for real-world success. We just need better frameworks for making these connections.”

Building Partnerships That Matter

The enthusiasm is there – 83.7% of employers believe partnerships with schools are crucial for developing talent. But right now, fewer than 1 in 5 report having regular communication with local schools. As one regional business leader noted, "There's often a disconnect between how we measure success in education and what makes someone successful in the workplace.”

What This Means for Kentucky's Future

When we talk about making diplomas more meaningful, we're really talking about fundamental questions of economic opportunity and creating upward economic mobility. We're talking about the diploma serving as Kentucky's promise that every graduate is equipped to earn a living wage, support a family, and contribute to their community. We're talking about breaking cycles of poverty and building generational wealth. We're talking about strengthening our state's talent pipeline and making Kentucky more attractive to new businesses and industries. A Kentucky high school diploma must be a reliable signal that students have mastered not only academic subjects but have developed the durable skills and transferable knowledge needed to thrive in our rapidly evolving world.

Moving Forward Together

The full Meaningful Diploma Employer Survey Report provides actionable insights for strengthening the connection between education and workforce success in Kentucky; And solving it requires all of us: educators connecting classroom learning to real-world success, employers providing authentic learning experiences, policymakers removing barriers to collaboration, and communities supporting meaningful change.

While public education remains a critical public trust, careful calibration to meet today's challenges is required. As Kentucky education and business leaders work together to strengthen the meaning of a high school diploma, we must ensure our accountability systems and measures of success align with what employers value most – including durable skills, real-world application of learning, and authentic work experiences. Getting this alignment right means transforming Kentucky's high school diploma from a credential of completion into a trusted signal of genuine preparation.

‍