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The School-To-Work Opportunities Act (STWOA) of 1994 gives employers a landmark opportunity to be involved in upgrading the education and work skills of the American workforce.

     The School-To-Work Opportunities act of 1994 provides federal money to launch  programs that ensure that high school and community college students get preparation to be productive in the workplace.  The key to success of such programs is the creation of partnerships between our public education system and employers like you.  The School-To-Work initiative gives you a chance to work with our local school system to prepare our youth for the world of work and for the work in your industry.

WANTED: HIGH SKILLS
As a employer, you need highly skilled workers to be more profitable.  The current shortage of skilled workers to be more profitable.  The current shortage of skilled workers in this country is partly due to a dramatic change in America's workforce requirements.

PREPARATION: THE MISSING LINK
of every 100 U.S. high school graduates:
*43 will have completed college prep classes but only half will eventually complete a four-year degree.
*12 will have completed a high school vocational education program.
*45 will have completed a general track diploma program of uncertain focus, preparing them for nothing beyond high school.

With the exception of a few vocational students and the best motivated college prep students, most young people in the U.S. graduate from high school ill prepared for either work or college.

School-To-Work transition systems replace the skills vacuum with skills preparation and help students move smoothly from secondary education into good jobs, further education or both.
 
 

THE THREE BASIC ELEMENTS OF SCHOOL-TO-WORK SYSTEMS
SCHOOL BASED LEARNING                             WORK BASED LEARNING
*Career exploration and counseling                            *Work experience (paid and non-paid)
*A Career-major focus                                              *Job training that reinforces school-based
*Program of study that prepares students                       learning.
  for post secondary education and a skill                     *Work mentoring
  certificate.                                                                *Instruction in general workplace skills.
*The teaching of academic and vocational                 *The teaching of all aspects of industry.
  subjects as one.
*Meaningful student progress for both academic
  and vocational subjects.
*Formal arrangements for post secondary
  education or additional career preparation.

CONNECTING ACTIVITIES
Connecting schools and workplace does not happen naturally.  It requires a range of activities to integrate the worlds of school and work to ensure that the student is not "the slender thread" that connects the two.  Connecting activities provide program coordination and administration; integrate the worlds of school and business staff exchanges, for example; provide student support, such as career counseling and college placement.
 

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