Prepared Youth

 

Introduction

Influenced by continuous changes in technology, business processes, markets, and demographics the workplace is constantly being reshaped. As the workplace changes so do jobs and the skills required to perform them. To be competitive in the workforce of today and tomorrow requires a higher level of education and a new set of skills.

To prepare for success in work and life in the new economy, ALL high school students need to develop a new set of skills and competencies, whether they plan on continuing their education or entering the workforce upon graduation.

A Prepared Youth

The Workforce Solutions Alamo Board has defined a “prepared” youth as an individual who:

1. Obtains a high school diploma or a GED;
2. Demonstrates the attainment of three-part foundation skills and five competencies from the Secretary’s Commission on Achieving Necessary Skills (SCANS); and
3. Demonstrates the attainment of the Employer Education Council’s six character traits.

SCANS

In 1990, the U.S. Secretary of Labor formed a commission to identify the skills required of the workplace and to make recommendations for changes in the education system to development those skills. The commission was named the Secretary’s Commission on Achieving Necessary Skills (SCANS). In 1991 the Commission published a report entitled “What Work Requires of Schools”. Based on research with employers, the report identified five competencies and a three-part foundation of skills and personal qualities that are essential for successful job performance or what is referred to as “workplace know-how”.

The Five Competencies

• Resources – allocating time, money, materials, space and staff
• Interpersonal Skills – working on teams, teaching others, serving customers, leading, negotiating, and working well with people from culturally diverse backgrounds
• Information – acquiring and evaluating data, organizing and maintaining files, interpreting and communicating, and using computers to process information
• Systems – understanding social, organizational, and technological systems, monitoring and correcting performance, and designing or improving systems
• Technology – selecting equipment and tolls, applying technology to specific tasks, and maintaining and troubleshooting technologies

A Three-Part Foundation

• Basis Skills – reading, writing, arithmetic and mathematics, speaking, and listening
• Thinking Skills – thinking creatively, making decisions, solving problems, seeing things in the “mind’s eye”, knowing how to learn, and reasoning
• Personal Qualities – individual responsibility, self-esteem, sociability, self-management, and integrity

ECC Character Traits

In 1999, as part of the City of San Antonio’s Better Jobs initiative, a coalition of employers and educators was brought together to form the Employer Education Council (ECC), chaired by Mr. Tom Frost, to improve the quality of education and the workforce. Based on the input received from employers, the ECC identified six (6) character traits needed to be successful in the workplace. The ECC has since established a campaign through the local independent school districts called Live It!, to promote the six positive character traits.

The six (6) positive character traits are:

• Integrity
• Respect
• Dependability
• Fairness
• Caring
• Civic Responsibility

Prepared and adopted by the Workforce Solutions Alamo Youth Council and Board of Directors