A r c h i v e d  I n f o r m a t i o n

Employers, Families and Education 

apple2.gif (1403 bytes)Introduction: Better Education is Everybody's Businessbrush_line.gif (189 bytes)
 
"Education is the engine that drives our economy."
U.S. Secretary of Education Richard W. Riley
1997 State of American Education Address

It has been two years since the publication of the first edition of Employers, Families, and Education: Promoting Family Involvement in Learning. During that time evidence has continued to accumulate that family involvement in education is:

The quality of our schools is fundamental to America's future, quality of life and economic vibrancy. Today's economy demands that all high school graduates, whether they are continuing their education or moving directly into the workforce, have higher levels of skills and knowledge. The Goals 2000: Educate America Act continues to encourage higher standards for student learning, local changes in curriculum and instruction, and broad-based community involvement in education. It has become increasingly evident that parent involvement in education contributes to the success of school improvement efforts.

At the 1996 National Education Summit in Palisades, New York, President Clinton and Education Secretary Riley joined the nation's governors and corporate executives to acknowledge that they have a common stake in the quality and performance of schools in this nation and a common interest in creating a prosperous future. Governors agreed to establish, in their states, internationally competitive academic standards, assessments to measure academic achievement and accountability systems. Business leaders will reward academic achievement when hiring by asking job candidates for transcripts, diplomas and portfolios. Corporate leaders also pledged to "adopt policies to support parental involvement in their children's education and in improving their local schools." When employers facilitate the involvement of working parents and employees, they enable concerned citizens to address pressing educational needs in their communities.

National interest in education was further heightened by President Clinton's State of the Union message in 1997, beginning his second term, which issued a Call to Action for American Education in the 21st Century. The President's ten points challenge all community stakeholders - including businesses, families, colleges, senior citizens, educators, community organizations and policy makers to work together for strong, safe schools with clear standards of achievement and discipline, and talented and dedicated teachers in every classroom.
 

President Clinton's Call to Action

  • Set rigorous national standards, with national tests in 4th-grade reading and 8th-grade math to make sure our children master the basics.
  • Make sure there's a talented and dedicated teacher in every classroom.
  • Help every student to read independently and well by the end of the 3rd grade.
  • Expand Head Start and challenge parents to get involved early in their children's learning.
  • Expand school choice and accountability in public education.
  • Make sure our schools are safe, disciplined and drug free, and instill basic American values.
  • Modernize school buildings and help support school construction.
  • Open the doors of college to all who work hard and make the grade, and make the 13th and 14th years of education as universal as high school.
  • Help adults improve their education and skills by transforming the tangle of federal training programs into a simple skill grant.
  • Connect every classroom and library to the Internet by the year 2000 and help all students become technologically literate. 
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The President's Call to Action provides an excellent focus for needed changes in education, while encouraging local initiative and business involvement, which serve as important catalysts to give children in our communities the best education possible.

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