PRACTICAL REASONS FOR RAISING STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT For Kids, Parents and Educators © American Student Achievement Institute May be reproduced with proper citation for educational purposes.

1 EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR TODAY’S LABOR MARKET American Student Achievement Institute

JOB SKILL LEVELS / EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS American Student Achievement Institute

EDUCATIONAL COMPLETERS Source: Digest of Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, % complete High school voc-tec programs 43% complete college degree programs, but only half of those will eventually complete a four-year degree. 12% 43% 45% 45% complete a general track diploma program of uncertain focus, preparing them for nothing specific beyond high school. American Student Achievement Institute

POSTSECONDARY DROP-OUTS Most students do not flunk out! Reasons for leaving postsecondary: Lack of direction (leading to lack of progress) Increasing student loan debt (2/3 of financial aid is loans) Dr. Ken Gray, Penn State University American Student Achievement Institute

VOCATIONAL STUDENTS Source: Great Expectations: A Report on Employer Expectations in Indiana, 1999 (Indiana Education Information Center, Hudson Institute) “Even those students seeking a technical or vocational degree will need skills formerly expected only for a 4-year college degree program. American Student Achievement Institute

INDIANA CORE 40 – All Students SUBJECTYRSREQUIRED COURSES English4Literature, composition, speech Math Algebra Geometry Algebra II Science Biology Chem or Physics Additional Lab Sci Social Studies 11½½11½½ World History or Geography US History Economics US Government Other 1 ½ 5 ½ PE Health Additional Courses American Student Achievement Institute

Preparing Student for Success: SCANS SKILLS Foundation Skills Basic Skills: reading, writing, math, listening, speaking Thinking Skills: creative thinking, decision making, problem solving, knowing how to learn Personal Qualities: responsibility, self-esteem, sociability, self- management, integrity, honesty Competencies Resources: time, money, people, facilities Information: finding, organizing, evaluating Interpersonal: teamwork, teaching others, serving clients Systems: understanding complex interrelationships Technology: select, apply, maintain, troubleshoot American Student Achievement Institute

SUCCESS IN THE WORKFORCE High Skill/ High Wage Low Skill / Low Wage Total Basic Skills Required Level III: Occupational Skills Advanced Workplace Literacy Skills Level II: Basic Academic Skills (Science, Math, Communications Skills) Level I: Work Habits & Attitudes American Student Achievement Institute

EMPLOYERS SAY Source: Digest of Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, in 3 employers said recent high school graduates lack the basic skills for even entry-level positions. American Student Achievement Institute

2 AVAILABILITY OF LOW AND HIGH SKILLED WORKERS IN A GLOBAL ECONOMY American Student Achievement Institute

AVAILABILITY OF LOW-SKILL WORKERS Source: Population Reference at Columbia University, New York, NY 90% of the workforce will be in countries where the average wage is below $1.00 per hour. U.S. Minimum Wage = $5.15 American Student Achievement Institute

Source: Willard R. Daggett, Ed.D., International Center for Leadership in Education AVAILABILITY OF HIGH-SKILL WORKERS UNITED STATES WHAT IS NEEDED FOR COLLEGE  English  Algebra / Geometry  Biology / Chemistry  Social Studies  Foreign Language OTHER COUNTRIES WHAT IS NEEDED FOR THE WORKFORCE  Technical Reading  Computers  Statistics, Probability, Logic, Measurement, & Systems  Physics EDUCATIONAL CONTENT American Student Achievement Institute

Source: Willard R. Daggett, Ed.D., International Center for Leadership in Education AVAILABILITY OF HIGH-SKILL WORKERS UNITED STATES MEMORIZATION OF FACTS FOR WORKSHEETS AND QUIZES OTHER COUNTRIES RESEARCH & ANALYSIS APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE BETWEEN DISCIPLINES APPLICATION OF NEW KNOWLEDGE TO REAL- WORLD PROBLEM SOLVING EDUCATIONAL TASKS American Student Achievement Institute

3 IMPLICATIONS for schools in the United States American Student Achievement Institute

Academic Preparation: Are we preparing students for? Postsecondary Admission OrPostsecondary Success Postsecondary Attendance Or Postsecondary Graudation Postsecondary Graduation Or Postsecondary Graduation with Commensurate Employment American Student Achievement Institute

 With whom will our students compete for employment? Kids from around our county? Kids from around the state? Kids from around the country? Kids from around the world?  Should our school prepare students for high skill jobs or low skill jobs?  How should we prepare students for these jobs? Career Preparation: American Student Achievement Institute

PRACTICAL REASONS FOR RAISING STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT For Kids, Parents and Educators © American Student Achievement Institute May be reproduced with proper citation for educational purposes.