Success possible using Iowa Core

To the editor:

I was pleased to see your coverage of law enforcement officers making the connection between receiving a quality education and avoiding a life of crime ('Law enforcement officials tout importance of education in preventing crime in the future,” May 20). I applaud the officers for stressing not only Iowa students' alarmingly low proficiency numbers in math, reading and science, but also the importance of Iowa Core standards to improving these results.

While there's no doubt that crime reduction is a compelling reason to continue to support Iowa Core, I also see another benefit of investing in this innovative educational approach: Securing the future strength of our state's workforce.

As a proud Iowan who cares about the future careers of our kids, and as a member of the business-leader group ReadyNation, I want our students to have the best possible opportunity to succeed. The Iowa Core education standards provide that opportunity. Their innovative classroom models emphasizing 'deeper learning” help develop the key skills that Iowa's largest employers value greatly, including communication, collaboration and creative problem-solving. Mastering these skills and accessing higher education is important in the modern job market. In fact, ReadyNation has highlighted research that estimates that Iowa will require nearly 50,000 additional highly skilled employees by 2020. Iowa will need to create as many college-ready students as possible to close that gap. The best way to do that is to commit to the Iowa Core standards.

Ray Rinkol

Iowa City