New report highlights improved access to agriculture education
The Pennsylvania Commission for Agricultural Education Excellence, created in 2017 to help create and implement a statewide plan to modernize agriculture education, recently released its third biennial report, outlining progress made on its recommendations. This progress includes:
- Growth in the number of approved secondary ag education programs statewide from 131 to 178 since the commission's inception, with five more pending approval.
- Hiring a dedicated, specialized commission staff with expertise in agriculture-focused career and technical education and diversity, equity and inclusion.
- Assessing the state's ag education Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) and implementing a strategic plan to address gaps, which has led to new Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences (MANRRS) chapters in four urban high schools and Delaware Valley University.
- Strengthened or renewed partnerships with Rodale Institute, the Food Policy Advisory Council, and other nongovernmental entities specializing in urban and organic agriculture, as well as partnerships across the spectrum from traditional production agriculture, hardwoods and forest products, and “green” or nursery product sectors to enrich their education initiatives.
- Built ties with the Franklin Institute to help build student connections to ag careers in their initiatives.
- Supporting the PA Career Ready Coalition and Remake Learning Day to increase agriculture career literacy for 7,000 students across the state.
Find more information about the work of the Pennsylvania Commission for Agriculture Education Excellence at agriculture.pa.gov.