School-to-Work

Pennsylvania's STW System

     Implementation of the federal School-to-Work Opportunities Act of 1994 was insured when the federal government offered start-up money for the program in all 50 states.   The following is a synopsis of the implementation of STW in Pennsylvania.

      In 1995 the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania signed a contract with the U.S. Departments of Education and Labor in which Pennsylvania agreed to initiate, “an industry-driven, community-based, grassroots systems development for a statewide system of school-to-work (STW) development and implementation.”   Furthermore, it was determined that this new STW system “will serve all students , from the academically talented to the academically challenged…STW is for all students , not just those who believe they want to pursue a technical career.”   (p. 2)

     The goals of this STW system are clearly articulated on page 3 of the contract:

1. “ To strengthen the PA economy by providing organizations with a predictable supply of highly qualified workers.
2. To enhance the career options and earning potential of youth by building an industry-driven , competency-based, school-to-work system that encourages and enables students to attain world-class academic and skill standards.
3. To develop a statewide school-to-work system that directly links school and work experiences and is built upon and integrates the strengths of the Commonwealth’s existing education and training programs.”

      The rest of the contract details the STW system that is to be created and implemented.   Some of the specifics include:

• Fund four “best practices” models, one of which will develop criteria for skills certificates for specific jobs
• Use industry standards for training students
• Require schools districts to embed STW in their Strategic Plans
• Prepare programs of structured work-based learning experiences for students
• Develop a cd-rom-based career development system to be used by ALL school districts in creating and evaluating their own career development programs
• Integrate teachers into STW through the “Educator in the Workplace” program
• Create a statewide staff development program for certification of school/work site mentors
• Develop quality assessment indicators for benchmarking every school district’s compliance with STW requirements (done by Penn State University - PSU)
• Create STW pre-service teacher training programs (PSU)

      After business representatives develop the skill and attitude standards for various jobs, students will be trained and certified by schools.    Academics and workforce skills development will be integrated, starting in elementary school and continuing through high school.   Secondary students will be taught academic “basics” while receiving worksite job training in one of the available “career pathways.”   The goal for high school graduation becomes certification in academic basics and job skills and attitudes .   The education process is reduced to providing a constant flow of workers to regional businesses.

      The PA State Contract details the entire transition.  (Please contact CEO for a copy of the contract. )

Businesses seek students

    Businesses across the state have created a STW structure that is under state control.

      In 1997, an Executive Order from Governor Ridge initiated the STW business structure by creating the Human Resources Investment Council (HRIC).   The 1999 HRIC report, Unified Plan for Workforce Investment , created one overall state Workforce Investment Board (WIB), 10 regional, and 22 local WIBs, CareerLink (one-stop employment and re-training centers), and Youth Councils (that coordinate career development activities for disadvantaged youth).   All WIB positions are appointments by the governor.   In 2001, Pennsylvania’s House Bill 3 codified the whole system put in place through the HRIC Report.

      The state WIB (Team PA) oversees the development of occupational standards, job re-training centers, and the regional and local WIBs.   Its website contains information on plans and activities. www.paworkforce.state.pa.us

Youth Councils comprised of local business leaders are the most visible arm of local WIBs.  

      Youth Councils bring underprivileged children into the STW system by providing grants for STW activities. Local organizations apply for the funds by proposing a STW event or program, such as a career fair. Even without the direct involvement of school districts, students are being introduced to STW ideology.

In addition to this formalized system of WIBs, local meetings with business leaders have often taken place through WIB members.   Penn State University has also been very involved in integrating business and education.

      Do not let this simplified explanation of the business portion of STW imply that not much is happening at the local level.   Youth Council activities are expanding as federal and state money is blended with private funds to encourage businesses and students to participate in STW programs.   According to a state press release in 2002, Team PA received almost one million dollars in federal grant money “to increase community- and faith-based organizations in Pennsylvania’s workforce-development system.”   Much of this money will reach the grassroots through local WIBs and Youth Councils.

Schools in transition to STW

      Since the full Pennsylvania legislature has not discussed the Keystone Report nor passed legislation that would methodically implement the STW blueprint presented in this report, it is difficult to gauge the actual spread of STW throughout Pennsylvania.   The range of STW activities in individual school districts spans the gamut from minimal to almost full implementation.

      Most schools seem to add STW activities without full knowledgeable discussion by the local school board and the people they represent.   Instead, bits and pieces or even entire programs are added through the curriculum revision process.   Guidance, social studies, and home economics are three subject areas in which STW concepts can be found.

      STW activities include worksheets and field trips for elementary students, and more intensive career exploration in middle school.   High school students may experience job shadowing, interest questionnaires, working field trips (e.g. to McDonald’s), and appointments with business representatives.   High schools that have received large STW grants may have complete STW programs as students select a career pathway, take related academic courses, and accept internships or paid work during the school day.   They also take tests to receive skills certifications.   Federal and state grants usually go to urban and rural schools that are in areas with well developed WIBs and Youth Councils.

      Some independent organizations are moving STW forward.   One example is Keys2Work, a computer-based STW program that interfaces businesses and schools:

•  Businesses can advertise 10 job openings – for free.   Additional

    jobs cost $100 each.   The skills required for each job are

    profiled along with appropriate employee interests and attitudes.

•  Schools join by administering interest surveys and the Work Keys

    test for math, reading, and locating information to all 10 th grade

    students.   The results for each student are formatted into a profile

    identical to the job profiles developed by businesses.

•  Keys2Work puts the business and student information into the

    computer to find matches of student profiles and available jobs.  

    Businesses and students can also gather information independently

    on the website.

       The Internet is filled with similar programs as well as numerous regional, state and federal web sites that explain ongoing STW activities.

       Students who participate in such programs are entering the full STW system.   Their names and vital education and skill information can automatically become part of the statewide CareerLink employment and re-training center, which constantly funnels workers into jobs.   The full STW plan is then implemented.

The future of STW in Pennsylvania depends on several factors:

•  how quickly individual businesses agree to join or cooperate with

   WIBs, Youth Councils, or training agreements with high schools

   and postsecondary training institutions;

•  how many school districts formalize their STW programs and

   agree to provide workers, especially through programs such as

   Keys2Work;

•  how well PA CareerLink sites and databases gather worker and

   employer profiles;

•  how well the state employment sites, such as PA CareerLink,

   interface with federal databases that gather information on

  American workers.

Vigilance at the local level is needed to identify aspects of STW and request an open discussion of this new education and economic paradigm in America.