Reformers believe that schools should prepare all students for a future. The notion that schools should concentrate their resources and energies on college bound students is no longer valid since the majority of them do not go on to attend college. And of those who attend college, the percentage of those who graduate is less than one half of those who enroll. A main thrust of the school to career reform effort is to encourage the development of systemic changes in schools which are necessary to teach a more effective, challenging, and meaningful curriculum. Teachers are encouraged to explain what they teach and how their subject matter prepares students for a career be it college, a job, or whatever.
Students learn best when they see a purpose to their studies.
And research shows that people learn best by doing and by applying their academic studies to projects and activities that are real. School reformers are critical of teachers and schools that concentrate on teaching facts and figures in a vacuum and without collaboration with teachers of other disciplines. They point to the traditional mathematics, English, or science teachers who spend class time drilling students on learning isolated, meaningless facts without integrating or relating them to a career or real world occupation or pathway. While it is essential for students to learn fundamental knowledge and basic skills necessary to solve mathematical equations or to read or write, students should be required to take the next step and learn how the knowledge they learn relates to a future career path and a successful and productive future. SchooTo-Career advocates believe that in order for schools to motivate, challenge, and better prepare all students, teachers should develop engaging and challenging learning activities in cooperation with business, industry and the community at large.