1. 4-D1 Your Choices Today Make a Difference Tomorrow Education GO Get It Campaign

2. 4-D2... requires a strong academic foundation. Photograph licensed from PictureQuest, LLC. Global Competition...

3. 4-D3 Career Opportunities Demand is growing for highly skilled workers. Photograph licensed from Getty Images, Inc.

4. 4-D4 Where are the qualified applicants? 25 Applicants – 21 Do Not Qualify 4 Qualify “We can place roughly 17% of job applicants because many applicants simply lack the necessary basic education skills required in today’s labor market.” Texas Workforce Commission

5. 4-D5 Prepare now for life! Photograph licensed from PictureQuest, LLC. High school choices are important. You will work 40 to 50 years of your life. Choose something that you enjoy doing!

6. 4-D6 Your Ticket to College or Technical School = Georgia’s College Preparatory and Technical/Career Preparatory Programs Requirements (Units): Georgia’s College Preparatory and Technical/Career Preparatory Programs [Source: Georgia Code IHF(4), 160-4-2-.46] Note: Students who wish to be eligible for the HOPE Scholarship Program should check with their counselors regarding current HOPE Scholarship requirements. See Appendix 6, “Georgia’s HOPE Scholarship Program.” For more details about Georgia requirements for graduation, go to www.doe.k12.ga.us/_documents/doe/legalservices/160-4-2-.46.pdf,www.doe.k12.ga.us/_documents/doe/legalservices/160-4-2-.46.pdf a Web site of the Georgia Department of Education. Also, local requirements may exceed state requirements; check with your local school system. Core Areas of Study College PreparatoryCollege Preparatory, With Distinction Technical/Career Preparatory Technical/Career Preparatory, With Distinction English/Language Arts4444 Mathematics4433 Science3333 Social Studies3333 Health and Physical Education1111 Computer Technology and/or Fine Arts and/or Technology/Career Preparatory and/or Foreign Language 1111 Foreign Language2200 Technology/Career Preparatory Units0044 Locally Required or Elective Units4434 State Elective from Core Courses0201 Total Units (Minimum)22242224

7. 4-D7 Georgia’s College Preparatory and Technical/Career Preparatory Programs offer many benefits. You’ll be better prepared for college. You’ll be more likely to qualify for a HOPE scholarship and other scholarship and grant awards. You can earn better scores on the SAT and ACT college entrance exams, as well as on other standardized tests.

8. 4-D8 IMAGINE… Your job as a high school graduate… $24,000 per year = $2,000 per month Photograph licensed from Getty Images, Inc.

9. 4-D9 How far does a $24,000 annual salary go? Federal Income Tax (10%)$200$1,800 Social Security Tax (7.65%) 153 1,647 Medical/Dental Insurance 50 1,597 Housing (Rent—1 Bdrm., Unfurn.) 400 1,197 Food 300 897 Car Payments 300 597 Insurance 100 497 Gas, Oil, etc. 60 437 Telephone 25 412 Utilities 100 312 Clothing 50 262 Entertainment 50 212 Savings 50 162 Personal Items 50 112 Medical Expenses 25 87 Furniture, TV, Appliances 75 12 Miscellaneous 12 0 $2,000 Monthly Budget Amount Remaining

10. 4-D10 What kind of paycheck would you like to take home? $5.15 x 40 hrs./wk. $206.00 x 52 wks./yr. $10,712.00 High School Dropout $11.54 x 40 hrs./wk. $461.60 x 52 wks./yr. $24,000.00 High School Graduate

11. 4-D11 Update per Texas Workforce Commission, Wage Information Network World-Class Jobs Starting salaries with two-year associate’s degree, diploma, or certificate Court Reporting$37,000 Occupational Safety $35,000 Medical Sonography$33,500 Electrician$32,000 Physical Therapy Assistant$30,400 Chemical Technology$29,500 Computer Electronics$28,000 Architectural Design$26,400 Electronic Technology$25,300 Photograph licensed from Getty Images, Inc.

12. 4-D12 World-Class Jobs Starting salaries with bachelor’s degree Math/Statistics$49,000 Mechanical Engineer $41,000 Network Administrator$35,000 Nursing (R.N.) $34,000 Economics & Finance $34,000 Accountant $30,000 Business Operations $28,000 Specialist Update per Texas Workforce Commission, Wage Information Network Photograph licensed from Getty Images, Inc.

13. 4-D13 OccupationGrowth ProjectedMedian Salary, Current Survey Researchers7.1%$21,840 Medical Assistants6.1%$26,208 Computer Support Specialists 6.1%$38,771 Physician Assistants5.8%$74,942 Home Health Aides5.6%$17,659 Medical Records & Health Information Technicians 5.4%$25,438 Careers in Georgia The Five Fastest-Growing Careers in Georgia Projected to 2010 From: Georgia Occupational Trends in Brief: Projections to 2010. Georgia Department of Labor, Michael L. Thurmond, Commissioner. www.dol.state.ga.us/wp/occupational career trends.htm www.quickstats.dol.state.ga.us/demand/wages/major

14. 4-D14 A Sample of Georgia Hourly Wages By Occupation/Training Level OccupationEntry Salary Average Salary Median Salary Electrician’s Helper $8.53/hour$10.67/hour$10.55/hour Healthcare Support Worker $8.30/hour$18.78/hour$11.68/hour Child Care Worker $6.12/hour$7.37/hour$7.10/hour Cooks, Fast Food $6.06/hour$6.41/hour$6.38/hour Crossing Guard$6.23/hour$8.72/hour$7.89/hour File Clerk$7.01/hour$9.70/hour$9.25/hour Farm Worker$6.41/hour$9.21/hour$8.40/hour ** Fitness Trainers & Aerobics Instructors $8.17/hour$19.76/hour$16.46/hour ** Assemblers & Fabricators $7.98/hour$15.03/hour$12.51/hour OccupationEntry Salary Average Salary Median Salary Electrical Installation and Repair $11.07/hour$17.66/hour$16.90/hour Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurse $10.84/hour$13.28/hour$13.09/hour Emergency Medical Technicians $8.45/hour$11.34/hour$10.98/hour Court Reporter$7.12/hour$19.98/hour$15.40/hour Hair Dresser$6.99/hour$11.33/hour$10.09/hour ** Automotive Service Technician & Mechanic $9.65/hour$16.23/hour$15.05/hour Medical Secretaries $8.19/hour$12.01/hour$11.52/hour Short-Term, On-the-Job Training Source: Georgia Department of Labor http://quickstats.dol.state.ga.us/demand/wages/EduTrain/Wages_By_EduCode.htm http://quickstats.dol.state.ga.us/demand/wages/EduTrain/Wages_By_EduCode.htm ** Hot Jobs: Above average growth and above average wages. Postsecondary, Vocational Training (Diploma)

15. 4-D15 A Sample of Georgia Hourly Wages By Occupation/Training Level Associate’s Degree (2 years) Source: Georgia Department of Labor http://quickstats.dol.state.ga.us/demand/wages/EduTrain/Wages_By_EduCode.htm http://quickstats.dol.state.ga.us/demand/wages/EduTrain/Wages_By_EduCode.htm ** Hot Jobs: Above average growth and above average wages. Bachelor’s Degree OccupationEntry Salary Average Salary Median Salary Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technician $16.43/hour$22.24/hour$22.84/hour ** Registered Nurse $17.56/hour$22.20/hour$21.62/hour Law Clerk$9.20/hour$14.63/hour$14.66/hour ** Computer Support Specialist $12.70/hour$20.17/hour$18.23/hour ** Dental Hygienist $18.30/hour$23.63/hour$24.73/hour ** Radiologic Technologists & Technicians $13.53/hour$17.62/hour$17.48/hour Civil Engineering Technician $10.08/hour$15.76/hour$14.79/hour OccupationEntry Salary Average Salary Median Salary ** Electrical Engineer $23.62/hour$31.54/hour$30.73/hour ** Training & Development Specialist $13.89/hour$23.19/hour$22.43/hour ** Computer Programmer $18.60/hour$28.06/hour$26.83/hour ** Elementary School Teacher (not Special Education) $34,187/year$45,326/year$44,108/year Occupational Therapist $20.48/hour$28.99/hour$28.00/hour Agricultural Engineer $16.48/hour$23.49/hour$20.35/hour School Social Worker $10.34/hour$15.74/hour$15.22/hour

16. 4-D16 Highlights: Georgia Wages Georgia Wage Survey, July 2003 Highlights: Georgia Wage Survey, July 2003 Georgia Department of Labor Georgia Wages, By Education/Training/Experience (Statewide) Source: Georgia Wage Survey, July 2003 Georgia Department of Labor, Michael L. Thurmond, Commissioner ftp://quicksource.dol.state.ga.us/Current/wagesurveycurrent.pdf Education/Training/Experience Generally Required for Entry to Associated Occupations Lowest Average WageHighest Average WageOverall Average Wage Bachelor’s or Higher Degree$7.94/hour$70/hour or more$28.09/hour First professional degree$19.24/hour$70/hour or more$43.10/hour Doctoral degree$17.24/hour$44.86/hour$28.31/hour Master’s degree$16.49/hour$30.89/hour$23.64/hour Work experience plus bachelor’s or higher degree$11.26/hour$56.56/hour$36.28/hour Bachelor’s degree$7.94/hour$40.52/hour$23.25/hour Postsecondary Education But Less Than Bachelor’s$6.51/hour$33.54/hour$18.49/hour Associate’s degree$9.07/hour$33.54/hour$20.21/hour Postsecondary vocational training$6.51/hour$24.90/hour$16.07/hour All Other (No Formal Postsecondary Education Required)$6.35/hour$45.97/hour$12.43/hour Work experience in a related occupation$10.58/hour$33.61/hour$18.12/hour Long-term on-the-job training (more than 1 year)$7.87/hour$45.97/hour$15.17/hour Moderate on-the-job training (1-12 months)$7.00/hour$28.49/hour$14.24/hour Short-term on-the-job training (less than 1 month)$6.35/hour$19.95/hour$10.33/hour All Categories Combined$6.35/hour$70/hour or more$15.96/hour

17. 4-D17 What is Georgia’s HOPE Scholarship Program?  Helping Outstanding Pupils Educationally (HOPE)  Largest state-funded grant program in Georgia  Financial assistance for selected students in most degree, diploma, and certificate programs  Apply for scholarships or grants for most public or private colleges, including technical colleges  Some monies available for GED students  Specific requirements and further information at www.GAcollege411.org Photograph licensed from Getty Images, Inc.

18. 4-D18 Who is your competition for the hot jobs? The other students in this room The other students in your community The other students in Georgia The other students in the U.S. All other students around the world

19. 4-D19 Look into your future! You must prepare yourself NOW by making choices that will give you Good Options later on in your life! Photograph licensed from Getty Images, Inc.

20. 4-D20 Questions? Contact Education GO Get It at www.georgiago.org Or 1-866-GO-4-GRAD Photograph licensed from Getty Images, Inc.