The U.S. Department of Education (ED) recently organized its inaugural youth summit with a focus on creating a workforce and economy that prioritizes guiding young people towards high-quality jobs. The event provided policymakers an opportunity to engage directly with the youth.
As per an ED news release, the summit allowed federal agencies to hear from 90 young individuals about their concerns regarding improvements in rules and programs that would enable them to thrive. The discussion featured several prominent speakers, including ED Secretary Miquel Cardona, Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, and Department of Labor (DOL) Secretary Julie Su.
Cardona emphasized the importance of involving youth in policy discussions that impact their lives. He said, "Our young people are always our most important stakeholders in education. Today’s youth policy summit is an important reminder that youth are also leaders of both today and tomorrow— and key partners in the policy discussions that affect their lives. That's why the Biden-Harris Administration is working to ‘Raise the Bar’ for student outcomes and young people’s well-being by centering youth voices."
The news release further revealed that the DOL’s Employment and Training Administration (ETA) is launching a Youth Apprentice Pathway Pilot. This initiative aims to facilitate young people's entry into administration roles. The DOL hopes this move will inspire other federal agencies to provide similar opportunities for young individuals seeking government occupations.
Su highlighted the significance of hearing from young individuals at such forums. She said, "Hearing from young people at today’s youth policy summit underscored for me the deep connection between a person’s wellbeing and the quality and availability of jobs that they can build their lives around." She added, "With our youth apprenticeship pilot and the hire youth pledge, we are encouraging our federal, state, and local partners to provide the resources and support that young people need to feel empowered to have a full voice in the workforce."
