Education & Distance Learning Enthusiasts- Leading Companies Discuss Impact of Student Achievement Gaps on Tomorrow's Workforce; - US Secretary of Education Rod Paige addresses minority achievement

Home | Education & Distance Learning Articles | Article

Leading Companies Discuss Impact of Student Achievement Gaps on Tomorrow's Workforce; - US Secretary of Education Rod Paige addresses minority achievement

PR Newswire - September 23, 2004

Continued from page 1.

Statistics indicate that the increasing gap in minority achievement is both a statewide and nationwide concern. According to a policy guide compiled by Jobs for the Future, a non-profit organization that works to strengthen society by creating educational and economic opportunity for those who need it most, and the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices, workforce predictions show that by the year 2020, more than 84 percent of jobs will require college degrees. Based on current national data, 34 percent of whites earn a Bachelor's degree by age 29, while only 18 percent of African Americans and 9 percent of Hispanics do the same. If current demographic trends continue, this will result in 12 to 14 million jobs going unfilled and a loss of national wealth of $230 billion.

Notable presenters addressed themes of achievement gaps in education while focusing attention on the issue of strengthening tomorrow's workforce. Presenters included Joan Verplanck, president, New Jersey Chamber of Commerce; Hilary Pennington, chief executive officer, Jobs for the Future; Ross Wiener, policy director, Education Trust Foundation; Dana Egreczky, president, Business Coalition for Educational Excellence; and Mary O'Malley, vice president, Prudential Financial, Inc.

The half-day conference also featured a discussion panel of New Jersey- based companies that made FORTUNE's 2004 List of 50 Best Companies for Minorities. The companies represented were Prudential Financial, Inc., Merck, and Verizon. As part of this discussion, each company shared some of their highly effective practices in diversity hiring.

"This conference offers a truly unique opportunity for New Jersey's leading businesses to collaborate with counterparts from all over the state who are working on similar issues," said Joan Verplanck, president, New Jersey Chamber of Commerce. "We will all reap the benefits of a stronger economy when we support a diverse business environment."

Various job recruitment vendors were also on-hand offering information to individuals who work in human resources and diversity hiring. During a networking lunch, attendees were able to visit the different exhibitor booths to obtain information on how to hire qualified minority employees. Attendees came away with information on how to support K-12 education, in an effort to ultimately strengthen the workforce of tomorrow. This included various suggestions on how businesses can get involved in local school districts and support professional development for teachers.

The New Jersey Chamber of Commerce Education Foundation showcased information on one of its cornerstone programs called New Jersey Scholars. Based on research that shows a direct relationship between challenging high school courses and college completion rates, New Jersey Scholars promotes a more rigorous core course of study that emphasizes math, science, language arts, and social studies. The research, conducted by the U.S. Department of Education, has demonstrated that rigorous coursework in high school is the best predictor of college and workplace success. Students who complete Algebra II rather than stopping at geometry, for example, nearly double their chances of completing either a two- or four-year college degree.

The New Jersey Chamber of Commerce Education Foundation is committed to supporting programs that ensure that all students achieve at high levels, become productive citizens, and are well prepared to succeed in the workplace. The Foundation serves as the voice of business in the education policy debate, and supports programs that address the business agenda in education reform. The Foundation is guided by its accountability to the business community. Programs are supported by tax-deductible contributions made to the New Jersey State Chamber of Commerce Education Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization. For more information please visit http://www.njchamber.com/.

CONTACT: Michael Schneider, +1-973-868-1000; or George Koodray, +1-973-919-9293, both for The New Jersey Chamber of Commerce Education Foundation

Web site: http://www.njchamber.com/

Start

« Previous 1 2

If you would like to discuss any of the issues raised in this article with hundreds of other Education & Distance Learning enthusiasts from around the world, please feel free to visit the discussion forums & post a message.

Discuss this article in the discussion forums now.

Popular Education & Distance Learning Discussions From The Past

Easiest DL RA MBA (3 posts)
by Rusty - Last post on: 11-02-03 10:41
Hopefully I will not be flamed for asking this... What would be the easiest distance learning RA MBA program. I have a B.S from an RA university and have been in the workplace for 20 years. Now I find the need to get my master's in order to ensure I keep my job. I need to find a program whi... (Read More)

Keiser College ECampus (2 posts)
by beardba - Last post on: 09-23-03 08:21
Hello Everyone! I am new to the forum. I am looking to pursue a Bachelors degree in Information Technology. I am researching some schools. Does anyone have any information or an opinion on Keiser? --- View this thread: http://www.online-college.info/article1290.html beardba---------------------... (Read More)

Re: A thought on Union (1 posts)
by Dennis Ruhl - Last post on: 08-20-03 16:36
And the reason you know this is that I consider it an accomplishment and let the world know about it. I also choose not to be anonymous. CCU is not Harvard or Podunck State U. but it's going in the right direction. If it receives accreditation, I will be much happier than if it doesn't. Oppor... (Read More)

DL recommendation and a couple of AMU questions (2 posts)
by Michael G. - Last post on: 03-25-04 16:04
Hello, I'm looking for a school offering similar program to AMU's BA in Criminal Justice with Intelligence emphasis. Does anyone know such a school? I've checked couple of schools and they did not offer such a program. I'd be pretty happy with AMU but since I eventually plan on going for ... (Read More)

You must register before posting in the Education & Distance Learning discussion forums. It's free & only takes a few seconds. Please also remember that no advertising is allowed...
Enter The Forums Here