San Diego's School-to-Career Partnership is a collaborative effort of the city's employers, teachers, school administrators and parents. The Partnership emphasizes teaching strong core academics (reading, writing, math) in ways that also build general workplace skills such as communication, use of technology, teamwork and teambuilding, allocating resources and problem solving.

"Industry no longer hires workers from the neck down," said Cyd Spikes, School-to-Career Manager, during the KPBS-organized introduction of "What's Up in Factories?" in San Diego. The San Diego School-to-Career Partnership worked in concert with KPBS to involve area businesses and high school teachers in the program and continues to serve as a resource for teachers coordinating student tours and job shadows.

"Industry," continued Spikes, "wants academically proficient students who can think, react and decide. To help make that happen, we need to expand our classrooms beyond the school walls, and provide opportunities for students to connect what they learn to real work."

In addition to partnering with KPBS for "What's Up in Factories?", School-to-Career redesigns curricula so that there are more hands-on projects and less lecture and memorization activities. Students participate in on-site workplace experiences such as mentorships, internships, job shadowing and field trips to get a first-hand look at the world of work and how they can contribute to it. The Partnership has created an employer handbook to assist in implementing these programs.

"We're currently working with local manufacturers to develop foundation workplace skills that teachers can infuse into their curricula," said Lynn Suniga, employer involvement representative for San Diego's School-to-Career Partnership. "There really is a need to encourage businesses to become more deeply involved in education. There's a symbiotic relationship between employers and future employees and it makes sense to make that connection early."

The Partnership has developed an Employer Database Clearinghouse system to link schools with employers. Information on over 10,000 San Diego employers is available along with specific employer commitments to provide workplace learning opportunities for students and teachers. For more information about the Partnership's programs or resource information and ideas that would be useful for business/education initiatives in your community, call Cyd Spikes at 619-238-1445.