“We’re seeing a transformation in our economy. We’re seeing an advent of new clean energy jobs, a move to a digital economy, a move to an innovation economy,” according to Roberto Rodríguez, assistant secretary in the Office of Planning, Evaluation and Policy Development, U.S. Department of Education.

With that in mind, he says, “We have to make sure our education system is calibrated to prepare every young person for success.”

Rodríguez joined WorkingNation’s editor-in-chief Ramona Schindelheim for WorkingNation Overheard at SXSW EDU 2024 in Austin.

Regarding the high school experience, Rodríguez says, “I think the courses need to be redesigned and we have to provide opportunities for students to earn early-college credit earlier and to be exposed to career skills earlier.

Rodríguez asks, “How are we embedding those essential skills, that critical thinking, collaboration, communication? How are we helping reflect some of those demands in this emerging workforce earlier in a student’s high school career? How are we thinking about opportunities for project-based learning and real-world learning and problem solving for our students – embedded in core academic subjects for reading, math, and science because it’s applying those skills in real-world settings that really unlocks and unleashes the potential of young people to think about what comes next.”

Learn more about the DOE’s Office of Planning, Evaluation and Policy Development.