Are ‘middle skills’ the new four-year degree?

Program from ’80s gaining popularity in today’s economy

skills-degree-studentsIn what was designed to target low-income students with limited job and education prospects back in the late 1980s, a skills pipeline program is gaining momentum as more of today’s students realize the benefit of ‘middle skills,’ or those that require less than a traditional four-year degree but more than a high school diploma, and pay well per hour right after graduation.

For example, high school senior Angelica Gaytan wants to be an FBI agent. But if that doesn’t work out, she’s considering subsea welding.

“I need a Plan B,” said Gaytan, a student at Benjamin O. Davis Jr. Senior High School who first learned about underwater welding from her uncle. But she got a lot more insight into welding careers this week as part of a program called Project GRAD.…Read More

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