And, labor understands that high wages can only be earned by highly skilled workers. All students will benefit. Students preparing for college will focus more on their studies when they see how academic courses apply to careers that interest them. Students preparing for full-time work after graduation will learn the skills and work habits needed to get started in a successful career. And students combining academics with career preparation will see the connection between school and their future.
Students are more likely to stay in school when they see hope for their future.
Typically, many parents have little involvement with their children's schools after elementary grades. As a result, they have little impact on what kinds of courses their children take in high school. Too often, students take the path of least resistance - easy courses that neither challenge them nor prepare them for advanced education or their careers. Students cannot succeed without a strong academic foundation in basic skills such as reading, writing, communication, and math. They must have a broad range of knowledge, and they must understand and apply that knowledge, regardless of their career interests.