{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sanders-speaks-with-vermont-high-school-students_about-goals-after-graduation-", "Sanders Speaks With Vermont High School Students  About Goals After Graduation", "2017-12-04", "2017", "2017-12", "Independent", "House", "VT", "Bernard Sanders", "S000033", "www.sanders.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "MORRISVILLE, Vt., Dec. 4 \u2013 U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) visited Peoples Academy in Morrisville Monday morning to have an open conversation with students about their aspirations and goals after graduating high school.\r\n\u201cIt\u2019s important that we understand how students see their options as they prepare to graduate high school,\u201d said Sanders, who serves on the Senate education committee.\r\n\u201cDo they have adequate information to determine the best college for them and how they can finance a higher education? If they are not going to college, do they know how to get training to secure the best jobs that are out there?\u201d Sanders said.\r\nSanders was joined by Vermont Agency of Education Secretary Rebecca Holcombe, Vermont Department of Labor Commissioner Lindsay Kurrle, local business owners, and other state and regional education and workforce development leaders.\u00a0\r\n\u201cThe economic return to education is increasing. Students need to understand -- and need help leveraging -- the benefit of some post-secondary credential, whether it is an industry recognized credential in a trade or a college degree,\u201d Holcombe said, adding, \u201cAnd, particularly in some of our rural communities, wouldn\u2019t it be great if some of our students grew up to be the doctors, skilled tradespeople and other professionals their communities desperately need to grow a more prosperous future?\u00a0 We need to work together to make this happen.\u201d\r\nSanders visited the Vermont high school to seek candid input from young Vermonters to help inform his work in the Senate.\r\nPhilip Grant, principal of Peoples Academy, said high schools throughout Vermont have become \u201cincreasingly more collaborative and creative to help prepare students for their path beyond graduation.\u201d\r\n\u201cIncreased and flexible opportunities, such as early college, dual enrollment, online learning, internships, and expanding tech centers are also greatly improving students\u2019 focus and access to postsecondary aspirations. As a result, seniors are becoming more prepared for what they want to do in life,\u201d Grant said.\r\nIn October, Sanders held a series of college fairs in Vermont to help high school students and their families learn about higher education options. Next spring, Sanders will host additional resource fairs with information about higher education and career opportunities.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sanders-speaks-with-vermont-high-school-students_about-goals-after-graduation-"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.422039931640029, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}