RE: Question 1: School to work

As panelist Jim Lawson says, "The California economy is heavily dependent upon a skilled, competent workforce to compete in the global economy." Others have cited figures that only 15% of students need a four year degree for employment.  How do we assess the future needs of society and how do we best educate the population to fill those needs.  That some needs are professional, some are social has also been pointed out.  Most agree that career preparation must begin in public schools. We need the flexibility to identify and implement programs that help students into careers and that can change as needs change.  Programs can be designed that help students go either to a job or to college with skills beneficial to each.  A high school biotechnology program would give students skills applicable to both.

To evaluate student success why not have an evaluation program that selects several work areas each year to survey and goes to the companies in that sector and asks about their needs and asks the employees about their preparation, successes and problems?  Rotation keeps the size manageble.  Location of individuals is not a problem.  The skewing that occurs is easy to detect and can be compensated for in the interpretations of the results.