Senator Kahn Introduces SB 276, “Career Readiness Drive to 65”

CONCORD—Yesterday, Senator Kahn introduced SB 276, relative to career readiness credentials for high school students. Drive to 65 builds on the 65 by 25 goal to have 65% of New Hampshire’s workforce possessing a post-secondary credential by 2025, a mission embraced by the Community College System of New Hampshire, NH Coalition for Business and Education, and the NH Department of Business and Economic Affairs. It is a systematic and holistic approach through high school years, whereby a career aspiration assessment occurs in 9th grade that facilitates course mapping towards a student’s career aspiration. The program would extend concurrent enrollment opportunities to 10th through 12th grade students.

Senator Kahn released the following statement after the hearing:

“In this changing economy we cannot afford for anyone to get left behind and we must do all we can to ensure New Hampshire high school graduates have the career readiness credentials they need to accelerate entry into the workforce and the tools they need to build a good life. Drive to 65 helps students and it helps businesses find qualified employees by reducing training rates and reducing attrition rates.”