By the LER Accelerator Coalition
States are no longer background players in higher education policy; they are becoming the primary engines for implementing federal workforce and education priorities. The federal government is prioritizing workforce readiness, skills-based learning, and verifiable employment outcomes, and designating states as the leads on these efforts. States are the fulcrum of national reform.
The Education Secretary’s newly released proposed funding priorities, focused squarely on workforce development, signal a clear federal commitment to expanding skills-based pathways, advancing state-level Learning and Employment Records, and supporting emerging talent marketplaces that connect education directly to employment outcomes. Members of the LER Accelerator coalition, representing leading national higher education organizations, have already provided feedback to help shape these priorities, which are currently in a regulatory comment period, to ensure institutions and learners are positioned for success.
Adding further momentum, the Departments of Education and Labor launched a landmark partnership earlier this year to accelerate the development of a national skills currency. Together, these federal initiatives point to a future in which funding, guidance, and accountability will increasingly depend on how effectively states align their higher education, workforce, and data systems.
For colleges and universities, this federal shift dramatically elevates the importance of collaboration beyond campus boundaries. Institutions advancing LERs are finding that the same elements foundational to digital credentials, including transparent data structures, aligned standards, and interoperability, are precisely the systems states must now strengthen to meet emerging federal expectations.
The takeaway is clear: as federal policy accelerates, institutional success is inseparable from state engagement. Strong partnerships with state agencies are no longer optional; they are the foundation for scaling innovation and advancing learning mobility.
Why State Engagement Matters
1. Workforce Pell Is Coming. And It Changes the Game
New Workforce Pell regulations will fundamentally reshape how institutions interact with state workforce systems.
LER work in standards, data definitions, and credential transparency will be vital for compliance and credibility. But none of that matters unless state workforce agencies understand how LERs fit into their systems.
2. LERs are the proof needed for funding
State legislators and governors increasingly demand evidence of workforce outcomes and economic mobility. LERs provide that proof through verified, portable records that connect learning directly to employment.
3. Most Workforce Systems are Unfamiliar with LERs
Most state workforce platforms, often vendor-built and employer-facing, have never integrated higher education credentials. Institutions that take the lead in educating workforce boards and labor departments will shape how these systems evolve. Those who wait may find themselves adapting to frameworks misaligned with higher education’s needs.
4. State Coordination Unlocks Regional Impact
State engagement is the connective tissue of regional talent ecosystems. For community colleges and regional universities, state coordination enables:
Shared credential frameworks.
Employer-recognized, portable records.
Consistent data and reporting structures across institutions.
The State’s Role in Scaling LER Success
States provide the policy context, funding levers, and infrastructure needed to move LERs from pilots to statewide or systemwide solutions.
They can:
Set shared principles around access, transparency, and learner agency.
Align incentives through grants, reporting, and data-sharing policies.
Invest in shared services and technical assistance that support institutions.
Model transparency and trust through clear governance and consent practices.
The more effective partnerships are driven by purpose, not compliance, and have the power to create lasting change.
Connect LERs to Policy and Legislative Priorities
LERs naturally support and strengthen key state initiatives such as:
Student record modernization and comprehensive learner records.
Credit/noncredit credential recognition.
Skills-based talent pipelines and competitiveness strategies.
State data privacy and consent modernization.
Workforce and economic development initiatives.
For campus leaders, this means positioning LERs as solutions to achieve state goals associated with workforce and data reporting needs.
Five Steps to Start
Develop a one-page LER engagement brief highlighting goals and workforce impact.
Engage your local workforce board on shared infrastructure and credential frameworks.
Brief your Legislative Affairs team to align LER messaging with state priorities.
Meet with the state workforce board to discuss your state’s approach to workforce data and LERs.
Track and share learning to guide institutional strategy and state alignment.
Your LERs, Your State, Your Impact
LERs can transform how learning is recognized, how states measure institutional success, and how employers find talent, and we can get there faster through coordinated partnerships.
The institutions that lead this movement will be those that build trust and shared frameworks beyond their campus walls.
Your state needs what you’re building. It just doesn’t know it yet.
The LER Accelerator Coalition supports these principled, practical collaborations, helping institutions and states move from theory to sustainable solutions that open opportunities for learners and employers.