Unemployment in Hawaii is at an all-time low, leaving employers increasingly desperate for homegrown talent. Yet local families struggle to make ends meet, often juggling multiple jobs. Facing this dynamic, far too many young people believe the only path to success comes by leaving Hawaii and moving to places like Seattle, Silicon Valley or Las Vegas.

It is time to put some new ideas on the table. In his second term, Gov. David Ige can create new hope for students by advancing three evidence-based practices.

First, all young children deserve access to high quality preschool. This investment develops young brains while supporting working parents. It is among the very best ways we can eliminate academic achievement gaps.

Despite every indication that residents clamor for affordable early childhood options, public pre-K classrooms are growing at a painfully slow rate. Four years after declining to invest public funds in a mixed-deliverysystem, we now have a mere 26 public pre-K classrooms today that serve only 520 children on 24 elementary school campuses statewide. Worse, federal funds that support 360 preschoolers in 18 charter school classrooms are set to end.

We must dream bigger. This current rate of growth is dwarfed by the needs of Hawaii’s 14,000 4-year-olds. New York City increased their preschool seats from 20,000 in 2014 to 70,000 in 2017, proving that it is possible to manage rapid growth in Department of Education and charter elementary schools while maintaining quality.

Second, Ige can use his convening power to lift up career pathways for students to enter high-growth occupations that pay a family-sustaining wage. We know the set of good jobs — from health care to engineering and information technology — that are on the rise in regions across the state.

Increased coordination among K-12 education, the University of Hawaii and workforce development agencies can help far more students to obtain a degree that holds real value to the private sector. Governors in many other states are publicizing priority industries and the student pathways that lead to entry-level jobs.

We can create incentives that increase student enrollment in these pathways. We can also encourage private sector partners to offer more work-based learning opportunities that let students “try out” new jobs before deciding which pathway to pursue.

The University of Hawaii is becoming far more sophisticated in using data to schedule and support students towards their success. But opportunity must be available to all in today’s economy.

Third, Ige can join with legislative allies and make early college and the Hawaii Promise permanent. These early investments proved highly successful, letting high school students earn college credits before college and removing financial barriers to entering UH. Additional aid can be provided to low-income students in the form of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or emergency aid. Actions like these convey a powerful message that college for all is possible.

As a community, Hawaii’s P-20 Education Council set a 10-year goal in 2013 to help 55 percent of working age adults hold a postsecondary degree or certificate. Most living-wage jobs now require that level of education. We are halfway through that goal and — at only 43 percent — have a long way to go. Students need preparation, vision and purpose to succeed. For that to happen adults must first come together around a shared plan of action.

Much has been said about future- focused learning and the changes to Hawaii’s economy that require us to redesign schools, updating the 20th-century industrial model of education. Heading into this second term, it is now time for bold action, not talk, aimed at getting results for all our students. Let’s all work together to take that action.

Terrence R. George is president/CEO of the Harold K.L. Castle Foundation; Alex Harris is the foundation’s senior education adviser for education.