The Business Champions Agenda

Improving the quality of the U.S. workforce and increasing the proportion of Americans with high-quality degrees and credentials cannot be done by educators or government working alone. Innovators on the inside require the support of Champions from the outside who have the influence, resources, connections, and tenacity to stand up for reforms, support the leaders on the inside, and raise the stakes. Business leaders, in partnership with other stakeholders, must become involved as engaged and effective change agents.

Powered by alliances among business, philanthropy, local and state government agencies, employers, chambers of commerce, educational institutions, service providers, and workforce investment boards, the Business Champions Agenda calls for:

• Expanding and replicating solutions to build a skilled workforce and expand opportunities for low-skill adults.
• Aligning the education and workforce systems to ensure that programs and services are effective in today's economy.
• Supporting productivity and efficiency initiatives that expand opportunity at an affordable cost.
• Strengthening accountability and data for decision making, including the development of common performance metrics for publicly-funded education and workforce systems.
• Making education after high school and career training accessible to all who want it.
• Developing productive partnerships and alliances among business, philanthropic foundations, local and state government agencies, employers, chambers of commerce, educational institutions, service providers, and workforce investment boards.