In the fall, planning will begin to conduct the third Workforce Needs Survey in the spring of 2001. If we want students to take school seriously, we have to take seriously what they do in school. Yet, only 15 percent of Maryland employers ask. It also tells them that the harder they work, the better their chances are for a good job. Too often, students don't see the relevance of what they are learning in school to their life after school.
Business needs to help make that connection.
The campaign is designed not only to send a strong message to students that their performance in school matters, but also to provide opportunities for graduates. Maryland is the only state in the project. Making the Transcript Meaningful includes efforts to ensure that the transcript provides needed information, is easy to understand and useful to business, and can be obtained quickly in a cost-effective manner. Evaluation includes using research devices to determine if the campaign is having an impact on student achievement and employer satisfaction with recent high school graduates. In addition, a national evaluation will be conducted as part of the NAB pilot program.