Editor’s note: The following column was written in response to a Journal-World invitation to members of the Kansas Legislature to share their thoughts about their hopes for Kansas and major issues facing the state.

It’s not your father’s workplace anymore. A K-12 education is just the start. Now it’s lifelong learning for all workers. We are training students for jobs that don’t yet exist, and that requires a different approach to teaching and learning beyond high school.

What many do not realize is that today’s job market requires 60 percent of workers to have a two-year technical education and only about 20 percent a full four-year degree. Other states have recognized this reality and moved forward while Kansas has left our technical schools and colleges behind the curve. While other states grew jobs, Kansas grew waiting lists.

Oklahoma, for example, has more than 500,000 high school students and adults enrolled in technical education. Not only is the state attracting high-tech employers, it is showing at-risk students that there are exciting, good-paying jobs waiting for those who stay in school. It is showing employers that the state is interested in being a partner in growth.

In Wichita, aircraft industry officials recently announced the need for more than 4,000 trained machinists over the next two years. Our technical schools had no way to respond. We had no point of contact for industry to address training needs. If we cannot respond to training needs, we cannot expect to attract or keep high-paying jobs. At a time when Kansas is working to be a leader in biotechnology, we cannot afford to be lagging in trained workers. That is hopefully about to change.

HB 2556 establishes a Technical Education Authority in Kansas under the Kansas Board of Regents. It may well be the most important education legislation this session. The authority will align standards, do long-range planning, and be the point of contact for work force training. It will enable Kansas to be responsive to the marketplace and attract jobs to keep Kansans working in Kansas.

Industry leaders and educators played a role in asking for the new Technical Education Authority. They met last year at the request of the Legislature to set a new direction for technical education. They heard testimony from education leaders across the country and from business leaders across our state. The evidence was compelling that if Kansas did not improve its training availability, jobs would leave the state.

I believe HB 2556 is a much-needed fundamental shift in how Kansas does work force training. I work on a team that accredits technical schools in 19 states. I can tell you that we have a lot of catching up to do, and this bill is an important step forward.

The bill is in conference committee and should come to the House and Senate for a vote when legislators return next week.

– Ann Mah represents the 53rd District, which covers portions of eastern Shawnee County and southwestern Douglas County. She serves on the House Education, Federal and State Affairs, and Government Efficiency and Technology committees.