RE: Question 1: School to work

Hi All,
This is my first time on this discussion, so please forgive me if I go over ground already covered.

I suggest that accountablity for any education program must include employement as an outcome, in addition to advancement into higher education. California already has in place an accountability system, the Performance Based Accountabiltiy System funded through the California Workforce Investment Board, that uses CA UI and federal employment data sources to monitor the employment and earnings outcomes of participants in publicly funded workforce preparation programs.  This system is in its 4th year, and is finally at the point of being able to provide a clear picture of the long-term employment prospects of persons who complete the various programs provided by the California Community Colleges, the Employment Training Panel, JTPA/WIA, CalWORKs and others.

One of the key reasons we fund education as tax payers is to help ensure that gainful employment is available to all who seek it.  Using the current PBA system to assess accountability definitely should be one of the outcome measures.

By the way, I have been the project director of the contract preparing the data and reports for the PBA system for the past four years.  

Thank you,
Cheryl Stecher, Ph.D.
President, Franklin Hill Group