Associated Industries of Massachusetts (AIM) is launching an Education Policy Committee to provide members with a forum to discuss education-policy issues, share employer perspectives, and contribute to AIM’s advocacy priorities.

The committee will focus on issues across early education, elementary/secondary K–12 education, higher education, workforce readiness, career pathways, and other topics that affect the Massachusetts business community.

“Higher education is a lynchpin of the Massachusetts economy. Not only does the sector employer some 250,000 people, it is also the catalyst for the research, life sciences and technology industries that have powered the commonwealth’s economic growth for the past several decades,” said Brooke Thomson, President and CEO of AIM.

The committee will meet a few times per year and may include conversations with policymakers, education leaders, and other experts. Early focus areas may include graduation competency determination, K–12 funding, artificial intelligence in education, and career-connected learning opportunities such as internships, co-ops, and early college programs.

There will be opportunities to create working groups on specific topics should the committee feel it necessary to further inform its work.

AIM has collaborated for many years with the commonwealth’s public schools and higher-education institutions to prepare workers for the challenges of a rapidly changing economy. The association was an influential supporter of the 1993 Education Reform Act and has been a consistent advocate for meaningful graduation standards.

Participation in the new committee is flexible. Members are welcome to participate in the way that is most useful to them – by attending meetings, following along through email updates, or simply staying informed as topics develop.

Please email me at smills@aimnet.org, if you would like to be added to the Education Policy Committee. Stay tuned for more information about the first meeting where we will go over introductions, housekeeping and upcoming education policy issues that will be a focus in the new legislative session.