We, a collaborative of business, education, faith, civic, and community leaders commit to:
A Vision
of an equitable education system that meets the region’s need for talent and offers all Acadiana residents the chance for a better life through increased educational attainment
A Goal
of increasing the proportion of working-age adults in Acadiana with postsecondary degrees, certificates, or other high-value credentials to 55 percent by 2025
A Common Purpose
to galvanize business, education, faith, civic and community leaders and organizations in support of a shared agenda to increase educational attainment, prosperity, and quality of life
Guiding Principles
In undertaking this joint commitment, we will adhere to the following guiding principles:
Lead With the Voice of the Business Community
By leading with the voice of the business community, we can elevate 55 by 25 from an education-sector initiative to a cross-sector regional priority
Commit to Equity
Developing and implementing strategies to increase educational attainment levels must focus on closing achievement gaps, or the persistent disparity in educational performance among race, ethnicity, and socio-economic status
Embrace All Meaningful Pathways to Educational Attainment
Career and technical education, apprenticeships, and other short-term credentialing programs all offer meaningful pathways to employment while meeting employer demand for skills that require some education beyond high school but not necessarily a four-year degree
Acknowledge and Support Programs That Advance the Goal
Collaborating within a larger community of organizations and programs already focused on education, we will seek additional partners, promote related programs, and advocate for collective success
Use Data to Guide Action
We will use data to guide our work and continually measure and report our progress
55 by 25 Partners
