Fairfax Failure

Floor Speech

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Ms. FOXX. Madam Speaker, I was appalled to learn that multiple schools in Fairfax County, Virginia, withheld National Merit Scholarship commendation award letters from hundreds of students. This is a problem.

When political ideology stands in the way of students' success, it is a problem. When the pursuit of so-called equity starts harming students, it is a problem. When school bureaucrats hold students back to hide their own failures, it is a problem.

The education bureaucracy failed these students. These students deserve to be rewarded for their hard work, and these students deserve an education system that will lift them up, not try to keep them down.

These school administrators were trusted with the future of these students, and they broke that trust. Shame on them. Dual Enrollment

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Ms. FOXX. Madam Speaker, one silver lining of the pandemic is that it pushed more high school students to take dual enrollment classes.

With the ever-rising cost of postsecondary education, dual enrollment programs are a great way for high school students to save on college costs. These programs allow advanced students to get a head start on their futures.

This is the case at Jefferson State Community College in Birmingham, Alabama, where high schoolers made up a third of the student body, according to NPR. These students are benefiting from extensive State expansion of a dual enrollment program. The more education innovation we have, the better.

Madam Speaker, we know that if a high school student takes at least one college-level course, that student is three times more likely to graduate from college than if the student didn't take a course.

We should give students as many opportunities as possible to shape their own education experience, and encouraging dual enrollment is one great way to do just that. Filling the Skills Gap

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Ms. FOXX. Madam Speaker, it is no wonder we have a skills gap. For decades, people have been told that a bachelor's degree is the only path to a successful career. As a result, fewer and fewer young people are choosing to learn skilled trades.

Without skilled professionals, who will repair our roads, homes, and cars? We need these men and women who aren't afraid to get their hands dirty. Yet, applications for technical jobs dropped by almost 50 percent over the last 2 years.

With a potential looming recession for those holding office jobs, many might be disappointed they missed out on learning a high-skilled trade. Fortunately, it isn't too late. Many open technical jobs pay a six-figure salary, and businessowners are struggling to fill them.

If I had to give young people advice today, it would be to consider learning a high-skilled trade.

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