by Dottie Cooper

Created on: January 08, 2009

A crisis of epidemic proportions in plaguing American schools and it isn't just about test scores anymore, but about making sure students are ready to enter the workforce. With all of the standardized testing, the fussing about math and science scores being considerably lower than international counterparts, the cutting of once core programs like music and art from school curriculum, what is happening to classes that once taught students how to interview, fill out applications, and create resumes or did these classes ever exist in the first place?

Specific, specialized consumer science classes and job skill classes are a rarity in most high schools these days in favor of increasing academic sections. Schools seem to have tunnel vision when it comes to college vs. the workforce. The truth is that most schools want to think that all students who they graduate from their ranks will go on to college and graduate with some kind of degree. While many may start college, the current statistics for college freshmen finishing with a four-year degree within five years is around 30%. Amazingly, many of the standards that are used to ensure college readiness have now also become the same set of standards used to ensure workforce readiness. This isn't necessarily a negative thing. Having similar standards for both college readiness and workforce readiness ensures that students are being academically and experientially prepared for both, whichever path they should choose.

It isn't uncommon today to see students learning about job applications in an English class or learning how to create and manage a budget in a mathematics class. Workforce skills have been largely integrated into core academic classes of science, mathematics, social studies, and the language arts. Something as simple as turning in a homework assignment is akin to completing an assigned task in the work world, a skill many students fail to recognize as valuable. Showing up to class regularly and on-time is important for a job where the time you arrive and depart are important. Habits developed in the school system can translate into transferable work skills.

As early as middle school, many education systems are starting to talk with students about colleges and careers while offering interest inventories and career days . Teachers are increasingly being trained to relate their curriculum to the real-world, letting students know when and how they will use a skill or content that is being taught.

Depending on one's

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