Utah business leaders who gathered Tuesday to formally launch an initiative to boost Utah education are calling it one of the "most important announcements the business community has made in many years."

The business leaders hope to see two-thirds of Utah adults earn skilled trade certificates or college degrees by 2020 — a goal based on a report released last year by Georgetown University's Center on Education that said about 66 percent of jobs in Utah will require at least some postsecondary education by 2018. They also hope to see, by 2020, 90 percent of Utah students achieve proficiency in reading and math by the end of elementary school.

A number of groups and individuals, including 12 Utah chambers of commerce, the Governor's Office of Economic Development, the United Way of Salt Lake, lawmakers, the State Board of Education and Board of Regents support Prosperity 2020, which was started by the Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce. This week, the partnership will begin running radio and print ads

"We have momentum, we have drive and we have vision," said Mark Bouchard, senior managing partner of CB Richard Ellis and the chair of Prosperity 2020. "Prosperity 2020 is the best thing we can do for the economy."

Bouchard said Utah faces challenges, including lagging academic performance, changing demographics and increasing workforce needs. He cited a Utah Foundation report released in September that showed Utah students most often rank last on National Assessment of Educational Progress math, reading and science tests when compared with states with similar ethnic makeups, parental education levels and poverty rates.

But he said Utah can ensure a bright future by seizing upon the potential of its large, young population.

State Superintendent Larry Shumway said after the presentation he supports the goals and believes they are achievable. On state tests given last spring to sixth-graders, 74 percent scored proficient or better in science, 71 percent scored proficient or better in math and 79 percent scored proficient or better in language arts.

"We recognize that without the support of the business community and our political leaders that we can't achieve the goals we all share for our Utah students," Shumway said.

Shumway said state education leaders hope they also will be able to help prepare more students for the future by implementing Common Core State Standards, which will change what students are expected to learn in each grade and by supporting such efforts as Utahfutures.org, a website that students can use to help make career and education choices.

William Sederburg, Utah Commissioner of Higher Education, said he also believes the goals are doable. He said market forces will demand people earn more certificates and degrees. Now, about 39 percent of Utahns have associates degrees or higher.

"We're trying to respond to the needs [of the workforce], and the business community can define those needs better than any other group," Sederburg said.

The Governor's Education Excellence Commission has also set the goal of having two-thirds of Utah adults earn certificates or degrees by 2020.

"The most important investment you can make is in your most important resource, and as a state, there's not a more important resource than our children," said Scott Anderson, president and CEO of Zions Bank.