Education

This section of the report details important educational indicators that impact on the workforce and the economy. Examining this information aids assessment of the learning landscape and future economic development in terms of strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities to prepare tomorrow’s workforce for employment.

Pay level often links to high-skill jobs, which in turn links to level of education, so higher educational attainment and enhanced training can lead to greater economic opportunity and a more competitive workforce. Times are changing and current high paying occupations are open to people with Associate’s, credentials, and certificates. With the shift in higher education requirements and the growing importance of credentials and certifications (which are not individually measured), however, it is not possible to capture the strength of the economy using only four-year degrees. Nonetheless, they are imperative for many occupations, especially those in health care and education, which anchor the economy.

Emerging industries and occupations demand a diverse range of education and training opportunities, including apprenticeship programs, trade school programs, on-the-job training, certificates, credentials, and college and university degrees. The current job market offers opportunities for everyone. As automation and AI continue to expand across various industries, entry-level employees will likely need some form of post-secondary training. At the time of this publication, tariffs are currently on hold. However, if they are implemented, they will likely have a negative impact on employment in the manufacturing and logistics sectors. This, in turn, may affect retail, service, and hospitality jobs, potentially leading to job losses as consumers start to spend less.

Career and technical education at the high school level represents another path to gaining job skills that translate to economic opportunity. The number of students enrolled in Career and Technology Centers (CTCs) increased compared to the prior year. Wayne County is one of the few counties left in Northeastern Pennsylvania without its own complete Career and Technical Center. The school districts have collaborated to provide some CTC programming for Wayne County high school students.

In addition to CTC programs, Advanced Placement (AP) coursework helps students after graduation. Some districts recorded high levels AP/IB (International Baccalaureate) course participation of students, and many districts saw a large shares of their student body complete college coursework as well.

Among the many indicators of school performance, including attendance numbers, dropout rates, and standardized test scores, the most notable trend is the significant variation from district to district and school to school. For more students to pursue higher education and succeed in the workforce, it is important that schools struggling in measures of academic performance continue to strive for improvement despite the differing socioeconomic contexts of the communities they serve. These efforts must be complemented by work to improve those socioeconomic contexts – ensuring that children come to school ready to learn by alleviating poverty, food insecurity, housing insecurity, and physical and mental health challenges – and to address disparities in resources afforded to students by exploring policies that support struggling districts.

Public school assessment has undergone a significant period of transition. The Keystone Exams have replaced the PSSA exams for 11th grade students, and the PSSA exam has changed to reflect Common Core material. As a result, this report has most recently used PVAAS – the Pennsylvania Value-Added Assessment System. This tool measures students’ growth and accounts for changes in standardized tests over time, along with variability among the student population. Countywide average scores for 4th through 8th grade students showed room for improvement in reading across all three counties, although results varied significantly by district.

Pre-K programs are significant because they provide a basis to help children with early literacy. Students are four times more likely to drop out of school if they are not proficient readers by the third grade. Although there are discrepancies and gaps in data on the share of children served by publicly funded pre-K, reports of 3- and 4-year-olds benefiting from these programs reflect a small population of children. Head Start programs have been challenged by workforce issues and some have had to decrease enrollment and provide wages that compete with other sectors. It is imperative that the region move the needle on this indicator because it will affect ongoing academic performance, social services, and possibly even crime rates in the future. Literacy and numeracy are essential skills that influence educational attainment, workforce readiness, and overall economic development in the region. Literacy refers to the ability to read, write, and understand information effectively, while numeracy involves the capacity to work with numbers and apply mathematical reasoning in everyday tasks. The average literacy and numeracy scores between 2013 and 2017 suggest a small gap in literacy and numeracy skills between the counties and the statewide averages, highlighting potential areas for educational support.