News release from the Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership:
2015 Snapshot of Education in Northeast Indiana released
(September 30, 2015) – The Big Goal Collaborative, a Vision 2020 initiative led by the Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership, released the 2015 Snapshot of Education in Northeast Indiana. The Snapshot is a data-based report on cradle-to-career educational work in the region.
Research shows that more than 60 percent of jobs will soon require post-secondary education in the form of a two- or four-year degree or credential. Currently, Northeast Indiana’s workforce is at 37 percent. The Big Goal Collaborative is a collaboration of businesses, community partners and educators in Northeast Indiana who have rallied around a common goal: 60 percent by 2025.
Thanks to the collaborative work of regional leaders throughout Northeast Indiana, many key indicators tracked by the Big Goal demonstrated region-wide improvements. Specifically, the region has seen improvements in postsecondary enrollment, which increased by .4 percent. The Snapshot also found a 1.5 percent increase in postsecondary persistence, and .2 percent increase in high school graduation.
“In Northeast Indiana, we are committed to the belief that every child has the right to success in school and life, and that every adult has the right to economic prosperity. To become a global competitor and transform our economy, Northeast Indiana must work together to reach 60 percent. The 2015 Snapshot shows progress, but with grit and determination we still have work to do to reach the Big Goal,” said Ryan Twiss, director of Regional Initiatives at the Partnership.
The second annual Snapshot of Education featured information from 29 school districts, five technical education centers, seven postsecondary institutions and other public sources. The report included baseline numbers for key indicators tracked by action teams working on kindergarten readiness, third-grade reading, eighth-grade math and others.
From early childhood education to postsecondary education, the Big Goal Collaborative has united more than 150 partners who have committed to working together to increase educational attainment. Collectively, these hard-working leaders are making decisions based on data while working to identify local issues and best practices.
To find out more about the Big Goal Collaborative, visit www.neindiana.com/BigGoal or read the 2015 Snapshot on Education online.
About the Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership
The Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership was formed in 2006 to help build a globally competitive economy in Northeast Indiana. It is a public-private partnership creating business investment by generating business leads, developing product and fostering regional collaboration. In 2010, the Partnership launched Vision 2020 to bring the region together around five key areas for economic growth: 21st Century Talent, Competitive Business Climate, Entrepreneurship, Infrastructure and Quality of Life. The 10 counties of Northeast Indiana include Adams, Allen, DeKalb, Huntington, LaGrange, Noble, Steuben, Wabash, Wells and Whitley. For more information, visit www.NEIndiana.com.The Big Goal is one of seven priorities identified by the Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership’s Vision 2020 regional initiative. It aims to increase the percentage of Northeast Indiana residents with high-quality degrees or credentials to 60 percent by 2025. To become a global competitor and transform our economy, Northeast Indiana must work together to reach the Big Goal. To find out more about the Big Goal Collaborative, visit www.neindiana.com/BigGoal.