Industry Credentials: They Matter Now More Than Ever

May 10, 2019

A new report out from Excel in Ed makes the Connect Act work led by Metro Atlanta Chamber even more important.


A new report out by ExcelinEd, through their Credentials Matter website, highlights the fact that only 19% of credentials earned by K-12 students are demanded by employers. So what can we do about it?

The Metro Atlanta Chamber has been spear-heading efforts to align K-12 credential pathways to industry standards. Amy Lancaster, Director of Workforce Development at MAC, is working with industry groups around the Connect Act passed by the Georgia legislature in 2018. From the Atlanta Business Chronicle:

Starting with the new school year in August, students will be able to enroll in courses that lead to a credential in an industry of their choice. Unlike the certifications now earned by students in the career, technical and agricultural education program, credentials require meeting standards set by the industries and are nationally and internationally recognized.

Interested in learning more? Check out our upcoming events on Tuesday May 21st:

Atlanta's Future Talent Pipeline and Where We Are Headed – Join us Tuesday, May 21 for a sneak peek at the Metro Atlanta Talent Pipeline Report – an analysis of interests vs. aptitudes of 21,000 high school students across Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Gwinnett and Fulton Counties. Learn how student interests match up with the region’s top industries – Healthcare, Information Technology, Distribution & Logistics, Construction, and Manufacturing. Learn how to grow student interest in high-demand occupations leveraging the YouScience career interest and aptitude data combined with a high-quality experiential learning program.

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Experiential Learning Workshop – Following the Educated Workforce Series presentation of Atlanta's Future Talent Pipeline and Where We're Headed, employers can join us for the Experiential Learning Workshop. In partnership with Georgia Power and Carl Vinson Institute, this workshop will guide employers through the steps of implementing a high-quality experiential learning program, that aligns with specific industry needs, and connects employers with high school work-based learning coordinators.