Jim Cowen

3 weeks ago | forbes.com | Jim Cowen

Ohio ’s business and education leaders are uniting behind new state policy to help students as early as middle school explore and experience potential career fields, so they are better prepared to seize on the increasing number of lucrative opportunities after graduation. The Career-Connected Learning Coalition is fueled by a troubling state finding that 45 percent of the class of 2017 either left school without graduating or pursued no education or credential beyond high school.

Mar 5, 2025 | forbes.com | Jim Cowen

Damning national testing results earlier this year should spark a clarion call in state capitals, emboldening leaders to come clean with parents and take meaningful action that improves student learning. But Wisconsin is running the other way, by lowering its state standards and “cut scores”—the minimum score needed to pass an assessment. The moves make it far more difficult for a parent to determine whether their child is succeeding and truly learning enough to advance to the next grade.

Feb 17, 2025 | forbes.com | Jim Cowen

The flood of recent dismal education reports —from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) to the Education Recovery Scorecard—is stinging evidence that now is not the time to take the foot off the gas in terms of holding students, parents and policy makers to high educational standards. But that is what is effectively happening. The reports show stalled progress overall and growing gaps between the highest and lowest performers.

Feb 10, 2025 | forbes.com | Jim Cowen

As high-tech industries pour into Kentucky, they’re bringing a boatload of good jobs with them—an estimated 150,000-plus job openings annually for those with advanced academic credentials. The state has made substantial investments to build up the local workforce so they can fill those positions, including new and improved training facilities, increased apprenticeships and work study and accreditation programs.

Jan 21, 2025 | forbes.com | Jim Cowen

The U.S. Military is in a war for talent—not just new enlistments but more seasoned servicemembers who completed initial tours of duty and now serve key roles as leaders and mentors. As those veterans consider whether to stay or to move to the private sector, they are sizing up factors beyond pay and bonuses. They’re considering things like access to quality education for their children. That can mean a lot more than just a rigorous curriculum.