More and more, education pays off in higher wages, both short and long term, and the returns of investing in more education have grown over time. Indeed these premiums have increased since 1979. School-to Career is in part about a response to the needs of business and industry. In order to respond to the challenges of the changing economy, schools need help. Employers, schools, and the community as a whole, must become partners in the joint effort to improve the preparation of tomorrow's workforce.
All partners have work to do.
A survey by the Nation Center on the Educatinal Quality of the Worforce discovered that most businesses do not see schools as effective partners in developing the workforce. Most employers, for example, pay little attention to school performance when making hiring decisions. For the most part, they ignore grades, teacher recommendations, and the reputation of the applicant's school. Even worse, most businesses have no contact with schools. Conversely, schools all too frequently have ignored that part of their curriclum which is designed to prepare youngsters for the world of work.