News Brief

03/08/13

Businesses and Schools Encouraged to Partner

Huntersville Herald (03/08/13) Gute, MelissaAt a recent luncheon sponsored by the Mooresville - South Iredell Developer's Council, North Carolina Superintendent of Public Instruction June Atkinson talked about the importance of businesses and schools working together "on behalf of economic development." She said the state's graduation rate jumped to 80.4 percent during the 2011-12 school year from 68.9 percent six years ago, and the graduation rate is 94 percent among students taking at least four credits in career-technical education. "That sends us the message that students want to have a career," she remarked. Atkinson said the state's Career and College Promise program allows students to earn community college credits while in high school at no cost, with students achieving over 15,000 such credits last year. She added that under the Career College Endorsement Process, passed by the General Assembly last month, students can obtain an endorsement in career-technical education and/or college readiness in addition to the minimum graduation requirements. "We know we must give choices to students, especially when it comes to career-technical education. That's why we need business and industry partnerships," Atkinson said. For instance, the State Department of Public Instruction has partnered with the nonpartisan, nonprofit North Carolina Business Committee for Education (NCBCE), through which corporate leaders, lawmakers, and educators collaborate to boost student achievement. The NCBCE's Students@Work program offered job shadowing opportunities to 32,000 middle school students last year and 17,500 the prior year.

This news brief was summarized for Chiefline, CCSSO's weekly newsletter. Click here to receive Chiefline in your inbox weekly. Newsbrief Copyright 2012 INFORMATION, INC.