Our nation is confronted with the daunting task of rebuilding the economy and creating opportunities for individuals who have been impacted by health and equity crises. Achieving this will require a system that gives policymakers, education and training providers, and opportunity seekers access to data systems that make information about credentials more searchable, comparable, and actionable — something we call credential transparency.
As policymakers build data systems that enable credential transparency, they need to ensure these systems:
1. Use a common language to describe credentials;
2. Tap into a shared repository, so stakeholders have access to the most up-to-date information without duplicating efforts; and
3. Are actionable so stakeholders can use information about credentials to inform better decisions.
This work is already underway in almost half of the states where leaders are working to provide stakeholders open, timely, and reliable information about credentials — everything from badges and certificates to postsecondary degrees — with as much clarity and urgency as possible. Leaders understand that in order for their education, workforce, and economic development goals to work, stakeholders must be able to understand which credentials are in demand, where to earn them, and what their value is in the workforce.
A new policy brief we have co-authored with 11 other state leadership, workforce, education, and data advocacy/technical assistance organizations outlines the actions state policymakers can take to make credential transparency part of their larger state’s goals. It provides various policy and action recommendations, as well as current state examples that leaders can implement.
Specifically, this brief outlines the actions state policymakers can take to make credential transparency part of their state’s education, workforce, and economic development strategies. It will:
● Showcase the ways credential transparency connects to and augments current state policy priorities;
● Provide examples of specific state policies that support credential transparency;
● Highlight opportunities and actions state leaders can take; and
● Suggest actions and funding streams to support credential transparency.
Explore the full five-part series of Policy Briefs.
Policy Brief 5-State Policy