RE: Schools' Role in Workforce Preparation

We must be careful when designing systems to promote school-to-work programs.  

>First, such programs must not exist in a vacuum in the high school... they should be connected to courses that provide Career Exploration and Depth, and by the junior and senior years should be conected to real technology programs in the high schools and ROPs.

>Community colleges ARE natural partners, and such programs should be encouraged.  But by the same token, CCs do not have NEARLY the reach required to bring such programs to all high school students.  This effort must be integrated into the high school curriculum.

I agree that the world of work is changing rapidly:  we must provide incentives and methods to bring technology teachers into the workplace as well (during the summers and inservices), so they can be more in-touch with current manufacturing and business practices.

The IISME program in Santa Clara Valley does exactly that.  It is a program that should be duplicated elsewhere!
>>http://www.iisme.org