Educating the workforce of the future with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation

On this week's episode, Penta Partner Meghan Pennington explored the impact of early childhood education on the future workforce with our guests from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, Senior Vice President and Vice President of Education & Workforce Policy, Cheryl Oldham, and Vice President of Policy and Programs, Caitlin Codella Low. Drawing from their extensive experience in the education sector, Cheryl and Caitlin provided valuable insights into the importance of a robust childcare system in shaping the workforce pipeline and the necessity of investing in our youngest learners.

The group examined the challenges employers face in providing quality childcare and the prevalence of child care deserts in many U.S. zip codes. The conversation also delved into the CHIPS Act and its potential to address childcare issues, as well as the complexities of using data to inform K-12 education policy, highlighting the disconnect between parents' perceptions of their child's performance and the data reality.

The episode emphasized the need to understand these challenges to create effective, data-informed solutions that help families and build a stronger workforce. Tune in to learn more!