Not so long ago, elites sneered at occupational education. They were sure that college was a great “investment” for everyone and sought to elevate America’s “educational attainment” by making it easy for just about anyone to get into college. It turns out that this was a mistake, for which the students who got degrees (or dropped out) and then had to somehow acquire marketable skills suffered the consequences.

This elite-driven failure should inspire us to take another look at occupational training. In today’s Martin Center article, Preston Cooper looks at the workforce-training system that Virginia has developed. He writes:

The Virginia legislature created FastForward in 2016. Operated out of the state’s 23 community colleges, FastForward trains workers to earn industry-recognized credentials that enable them to join high-demand occupations. In particular, FastForward aims to prepare workers for “middle-tier” occupations that require some education beyond high school but not a four-year degree.

Students earn industry-recognized credentials and have to pay a third of the cost. That’s not a lot if it gives them a strong incentive.

Read the whole thing.