Standard (m) of the Wisconsin School Standards outlines the components of Education for Employment programs.  One component of Standard (m) (Administrative Rule ch. Pl26) identified in the program shall incorporate instruction in skills relating to employment.  As a result, area school districts and businesses created the Employability Endorsement assessment.  Now these skills--teamwork/cooperation, initiative/effort, interpersonal skills, quality of work, responsibility/time management, decision-making, and respect (self & others)--also referenced as lifelong learning skills are being emphasized and assessed at area high schools. 

Many schools reference the lifework skills assessment as employability, others as lifelong learning, and some as character traits.  In conjunction with the national agenda, a local Yes, School Counts  campaign asks area businesses to request acedemic, attendance, and lifework (employability) skills ratings from all future applicants, especially high school applicants, for part-time employment.  Through this program and the "Yes, School Counts" campaign, employers can motivate students to attend and work harder in school.  This campaign is developing further through the School Attendance Task Force, which is addressing the school attendance problem emerging in our community.

For more information about Partners in Education call Nancy Schopf, vice president-education and leadership, at 920-437-8704 or e-mail schopf@titletown.org.