What is Your Education Matters Speakers Bureau?

It is important that business leaders, the education system, and their communities engage in conversation about the importance of ALL students achieving high academic standards. There are increasing skill requirements of the workplace, this is why academic achievement is integral to success after high school. Businesses can reinforce academic standards by integrating the worlds of school and work in their community.

This is a forum were business leaders can participate constructively in setting academic standards that will assure that the skills and abilities of our young people will keep pace with the rapidly advancing, technology-based world marketplace.

Why is this collaboration important?

Businesses are the first ones to get the first real-world view of the young people emerging from the American education system. They are reporting that many graduates arrive at their doors unable to write a proper paragraph, fill out simple forms, read instruction manuals, do essential mathematical calculations, understand basic scientific concepts or work as a team. Standards must reflect "real world" requirements so that students leave school understanding what they must know to be ready for further learning, productive work and lives as contributing citizens.

Business Incentives that Support Academic Achievement Include:

• Articulating workforce skills
• Using academic achievement in hiring and location decisions ( i.e. look at a prospective hire's school attendance record; request recommendations from teachers; etc.)
• Adopting policies to support parental and employee involvement in local schools
• Exposing teachers/ students/ parents to the high-performance work settings that reveal what kinds of conduct and thinking skills are used on the job.

Expectations of All Students Meeting High Academic Standards Promotes:

• Young People equipped for high-skill, high-wage jobs
• A more informed citizenry
• Increased business productivity

Requirements for an Effective Education System:

• High content and performance standards
• Assessments that matches the standards
• Public information about student and school performance