My Role – Employers

Grad and familyConnections to Designing High Schools for Success:
Employers are essential partners in designing high schools for success. It is imperative that members of the business and service industries be actively involved in initiatives to ensure high schools are more connected to the community at large and to opportunities that may help to further these connections.

Wisconsin's business community tells us they need high school graduates who are creative and innovative;can think critically, identify and solve problems; have communicaiton skills; are responsible and ethical; and understand other cultures and perspectives. It is important for local school districts to work together with regional economic and workforce development initiatives to implement career pathways and provide educational opportunities that prepare students for jobs of the 21st century. All students whether they are preparing for postsecondary education or entering the workforce upon graduation, must have access to career planning and guidance that includes instruction in career decision-making and economic and workforce realities.

Through collaboration we can strenthen our schools. Schools Education for Employment plans can provide a blueprint for working with regional economic and workforce development groups and should be aligned with the models for developing programs of study/career pathways. Through partnerships we can expand our ability to develop strong work-based learning opportunities, STEM career academies, youth apprenticship, and service learning and other opportunities that enhance educational experiences and align with workforce needs.

Resources:

Building Wisconsin's Economic Future: This paper summarizes what businesses and schools can do to work together to build a solid educational foundation and a strong and vital economy by focusing on building a highly educated workforce. State Superintendent Burmaster outlines strategies for schools, students and parents.
PDF Building Wisconsin's Economic Future

Career & Technical Education: Career and technical education provides authentic, relevant learning experiences for high school students. Resources, such as Carl Perkins applications, STEM grant information, career clusters and resources that ensure all students have access to a variety of options for learning are available on this site. www.dpi.wi.gov/cte

Career Pathways: Career Clusters are broad occupational groupings...an organizing tool defining education for post-secondary education and careers using 16 broad clusters of occupations and 79 pathways with validated standards that ensure opportunities for all students regardless of their career goals and interests. dpi.wi.gov/cte/careerclustershome.html

Education for Employment: The purpose of education for employment programs is to prepare elementary and secondary pupils for future employment; to ensure technological literacy; to promote lifelong learning; to promote good citizenship; to promote cooperation among business, industry, labor, postsecondary schools, and public schools; and to establish a role for public schools in the economic development of Wisconsin. Chapter PI 26 defines education for employment, describes the process for developing education for employment plans, and establishes performance indicators for education for employment opportunities. dpi.wi.gov/cte/e4ehome.html

Education for Employment Resource Guide: This guide is intended to provide local school districts with the tools necessary to respond to the Education for Employment requirements. The ultimate success of Education for Employment planning hinges upon a collective community effort and close collaboration with all state educational systems, private colleges and universities, business and industry, and other community organizations and agencies. Together, Wisconsin can build a seamless education system that supports students as they transition between school and work.
PDF dpi.wi.gov/cte/pdf/e4eguide.pdf

Service-Learning: Service-Learning provides an opportunity for partnerships between academic work and service to the community. Resources are available for service-learning planning, assessing the quality of a service learning experience and links to a study showing service-learning has a strong impact on youth-adult transitions. www.dpi.wi.gov/fscp/slhmpage.html

Wisconsin Business Summit: On March 14, 2007 , over 200 leaders of business, economic development, and chambers of commerce were brought together in Madison, Wisconsin, to provide their important perspectives on the needs of the 21st century workforce. They were asked what knowledge and skills a current eighth-grader should develop to be prepared to enter the world of work in five to ten years. dpi.wi.gov/cal/businessummit.html

Wisconsin Skills Certificate Program: The Career and Technical Education Team sponsors a variety of skill standards certification programs.  Each program focuses on the development of a specific skill set connected with certain work based programs.  dpi.wi.gov/cte/cteskills.html

Wisconsin’s Technical Colleges: This website includes information about the Wisconsin Technical College System for students, counselor, parents and employers. The site includes links to a range of information including the different technical college campuses, a variety of employment opportunities, certification, initiatives, news and general information. www.witechcolleges.com

Youth Options Programs: Wisconsin's youth options program allows public high school juniors and seniors who meet certain requirements to take postsecondary courses at a UW institution, a Wisconsin technical college, one of the state's participating private nonprofit institutions of higher education, or tribally-controlled colleges. Approved courses count toward high school graduation and college credit. dpi.wi.gov/youthoptions