Newsom announced that his administration has removed the college degree requirement for nearly 30,000 state government jobs. He said his goal is to double that number through his .
The plan will create pathways to receive college credit for experience gained outside of a classroom, such as military service or other job training. Veterans and service volunteers statewide will be able to apply their past experience towards a degree.
鈥淭his is around recognizing that we needed to create a framework where you can get the benefit of a life well lived that again doesn鈥檛 require some kind of fancy degree,鈥� Newsom said.
The state will also roll out an online database to function as an electronic transcript for job candidates. Newsom described the database, Career Passports, as a place for workers to showcase job and educational experiences, without an emphasis on higher education degrees.
The initiative combines state resources and programs for higher education, career training, and economic development.
Christopher Nellum, executive director of the education advocacy group EdTrust-West, applauded Newsom鈥檚 framework.
鈥淲e are especially pleased to hear mention of credit for prior learning, e-transcript, and continuing to remove financial barriers to college and career training in his vision,鈥� Nellum said.
Newly-elected Republican Assembly member Heather Hadwick represents parts of far North California and joined Newsom鈥檚 announcement. She said the region relies heavily on work training resources.
鈥淚鈥檓 from Modoc County so I live three hours from a Costco,鈥� Hadwick said. 鈥淚t is very rural and career pathways are what we have. We know that we have to show our youth what鈥檚 out there and that they don鈥檛 always see it at home.鈥�
She added in a press release that the governor鈥檚 plan will prioritize 鈥渉ands-on learning, workforce readiness and regional collaboration to ensure students and workers in rural communities have access to stable, well-paying jobs.鈥�
The visit to Redding is the latest of Newsom鈥檚 economic tour around California鈥檚 rural counties. His statewide economic blueprint will be unveiled in January.