Education

In the technology driven world of today, a healthy business community and growing economy depend heavily on a strong education system. The North Dakota Chamber believes in consistent, high standards for all students to adequately prepare them for their futures, whether they decide to pursue a university degree; a degree, diploma or certificate from a community college; or go directly into the workforce. The North Dakota Chamber will:

• Support legislation that promotes equity and excellence in K-12 education, including but not limited to the areas of school funding, transportation, consolidation, special education, and vocational education/career development.
• Support continuing education for teachers seeking business knowledge within the business community.
• Oppose unfunded mandates.
• Continue to monitor and support the University System and the "flexibility and accountability" concept as outlined by the Roundtable on Higher Education.
• Support efforts in developing corridors in North Dakota to help define new career and business opportunities.
• Support the concept and development of Centers of Excellence in North Dakota's University System.
• Support legislation intended to increase student achievement along with the requirement of measurably improved outputs. To accomplish this the ND Chamber will:

Support legislation to align the requirements for high school graduation with those for college admission;Support stricter admission standards for North Dakota's state owned universities; Support legislation to make career advising more available to students; Support a performance based pay structure for K-12 teachers; and Support assessment of students to measure improvement during a school year as well as year to year.

• Support funding to create a longitudinal data system.
• Support efforts to keep our best teachers in North Dakota and recruit high quality teachers from other states.
• Support increasing the number of student-teacher contact days during the school year so long as it can be done without an over-burdensome budget increase.