As part of an effort to meet the workforce needs of a growing economy, I have co-sponsored new legislation that would help ensure that every Michigan student has the tools necessary to explore exciting new career options and make the best educational decisions for their future.

Senate Bill 684 would modernize educational development plans and create a talent portfolio. Michigan law already requires local schools to provide an opportunity for students to begin developing an EDP in seventh grade.

The bill would update that requirement to ensure that students also receive information about various careers and the opportunity to develop talent portfolios that show future employers their career or technical experiences, proficiencies, certifications or accomplishments that demonstrate marketable skills.

With new talent portfolios and improved educational development plans for each student in our state, these initiatives would offer new ways for our schools to prepare our students for success.

SB 685 would implement career exploration and job readiness by requiring more detailed information from schools in their annual improvement plan, including information on activities that provide secondary students opportunities for work-based learning and ensuring that every student in 12th grade knows how to develop a resume.

Under the bills, schools would provide students with hands-on learning and age-appropriate career information.

I have long supported giving our students more information as they choose their own path to success and putting a greater focus on training and education in fields where jobs currently exist and are being created.

That is why I introduced SB 343 to give students vital information for helping them plan their future. The bill would require schools to provide students with the most recent available analysis of in-demand occupations for their local economic forecast region.

Providing our students with additional career and educational development information can help them choose a successful career path.

Sen. John Proos, R-St. Joseph, represents southwest Michigan.