Questions for Education and Business Partners

    Because of advancing technology and international competition for goods and services, business partners face greater pressure to increase production and reduce costs. Better-prepared employees, which education partners produce, are a large part of solving this problem.

    In 1996, with support from an industry foundation, the Southern Regional Education Board, 20 high schools, four postsecondary institutions and several business partners in the Atlanta area created the Local Industry-Education Consortium Inc. to improve work force development. The consortium established an executive committee for policy planning and a number of working committees. The consortium works with the local schools on summer internships and apprenticeships, job shadowing, staff development and recruitment of additional partners.

    Through working with the initiative, participating business and education partners have experienced steady progress and have learned some important lessons. However, several questions have arisen, and finding answers would accelerate further progress in the initiative.

• What gaps exist between employer needs and skills that entry-level workers bring to jobs?

• What gaps exist between employer messages and educators’ perceptions of what skills are needed in the workplace?

• What strategies would increase the number and quality of work-based learning experiences for students and teachers?

• What strategies would motivate students in grades seven through 10 to participate in rigorous, relevant programs of study in high school and beyond?