Test Your Business Support of Education Fine tune your competitive advantage. Use this tool to improve the performance of your business TODAY!

Directions:

The following is a checklist of ideas other companies have used to improve their competitive advantage in recruiting and retaining a world class work force through strengthening their partnership with education. Most of these ideas cost little or no money.

We invite you to download the checklist and spend the next 10-15 minutes filling out this "test," with your company in mind.   If you find there are things you are not doing but they seem to be of value, resource lists of programs that are working and places to go for more information are included at the end of each page and at the end of the test. It is our sincere hope you will take advantage of these opportunities to partner with our community's educators and benefit your company and your community.

If you would like more information about us, please contact:

Education Group
Charlotte Chamber
PO Box 32785
Charlotte, NC 28232
(704) 378-1301

Please feel free to copy and distribute this document to anyone you believe would be interested.

Part 1: Recruiting

Do you identify basic education requirements for all positions?	Yes     No
Do you identify technical skills required for all positions?	Yes     No
Do you use high school transcripts, Work Keys results, and/or skills resumes to assist in making your hiring decisions?	Yes     No
Do you evaluate high school attendance data in making hiring decisions?	Yes     No
Do you participate in an apprenticeship, internship, or career mentoring program for students?	Yes     No
Do you have several entry level career paths that lead to higher level supervisory and managerial positions?	Yes     No
Do you participate in career days with local high schools as a source for new recruits?	Yes     No
Do you have and seek racial, ethnic, gender, and age diversity in your work force?	Yes     No
Total Scores: _____      Yes's: _____   No's:  _____

If you have more "no's" than you would like, consider the ideas and expertise listed below as well as references listed in the end of this test.

Where Do We Start?

Ask for high school transcripts from applicants for entry-level positions. Create and communicate career ladders and grow potential of entry-level jobs. Monitor hours worked by students and ask to se their grades each semester. Communicate specific skill requirements of high growth jobs to area high schools. Host field trips, job shadowing, and internship experiences for students and teachers.

Programs That Work:

Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools' School-to-Career Department, Guidance & Student Services Department
(704)343-3653

National Alliance of Business Workforce Development Efforts at www.NAB.com

www.uschamber.org

Part 2: Employee Development

Do you offer on-site basic literacy programs for employees and their family members?	Yes     No
Do you allow your employees to participate in off-site literacy programs at company expense or on company time?	Yes     No
Do you offer tuition assistance programs for full time employees to attend area post-secondary institutions?	Yes     No
Do you work with local schools and universities to develop courses to meet your company's training and development needs?	Yes     No
Do you provide technical training to meet your company's current needs?	Yes     No
Do you have a technology development plan for your company and a training program to support those futures needs?	Yes     No
Do you have a mentoring program for your employees?	Yes     No
Do you invest in your employees' development by paying for seminars and conferences?	Yes     No
Do you offer opportunities for your employees to serve as management consultants to local schools or school districts?	Yes     No
Do you invite school personnel to participate in your company's training seminars?	Yes     No
Total Scores: _____      Yes's: _____   No's:  _____

If you have more "no's" than you would like, consider the ideas and expertise listed below as well as references listed in the end of this test.

Where Do We Start?

Routinely inform employees about how to earn a GED or advanced degree. Offer flexibility in scheduling to those returning to school. Use employee publications to emphasize the importance of education for all ages. Have employees offer "skills clinics" to one another and recognize increased skill levels.

Programs That Work:

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools-Partnership Department
(704)343-6364

Central Piedmont Community College
(704)330-6716

Part 3: Work/Family Support

Do you encourage employees to become active in school affairs?	Yes     No
Do you encourage parents to attend parent-teacher conferences during working hours?	Yes     No
Do you encourage employees to participate in tutoring or youth mentoring programs?	Yes     No
Do you encourage employees to volunteer in schools?	Yes     No
Do you provide assistance to employees in finding and funding high quality child care?	Yes     No
Do you have flexible working hours?	Yes     No
Do you have a leave policy that covers family illnesses, bereavements, and births or adoptions?	Yes     No
Do you encourage and support participation on school boards and school committees?	Yes     No
Do you provide parenting classes for employees?	Yes     No
Total Scores: _____      Yes's: _____   No's:  _____

If you have more "no's" than you would like, consider the ideas and expertise listed below as well as references listed in the end of this test.

Where Do We Start?

Publish schedules of local school board meetings. Conduct PTA membership drives with competitions and prizes. Use flextime to support school-related activities. Allow hourly vacation to attend school-related functions. Begin "job-sharing" programs. Join a consortium of businesses who support high quality child care and education. Hold lunchtime seminars on issues such as developing partnerships with schools, parenting, positive discipline and financing college tuition. Consider adopting a school. Hold volunteers fairs at your office.

Programs That Work:

www.cms.k12.nc.us
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools - Volunteers Partnership Department-(704)343-6217

Family Involvement
(704)343-6216

Childcare Resources, Inc.
700 Kenilworth Avenue
Charlotte, NC 28204
(704) 376-6697

Part 4: Community Trusteeship

Do you provide information to schools about your future employment needs?	Yes     No
Do you give feedback to schools on why employees succeed or fail to meet work expectations?	Yes     No
Do you let schools know what courses produced the best results in preparing employees for work in your company?	Yes     No
Have you adopted or sponsored a school or schools?	Yes     No
Do you provide employees for children who need mentors?	Yes     No
Do you have programs to hire and train chronically underemployed or hard-to-employ people?	Yes     No
Do you offer scholarships to support students who want to continue their education?	Yes     No
Do you match employees' donations to educational institutions with funding, services, or equipment?	Yes     No
Do you donate used equipment like fax machines and computers to schools when they've become obsolete in your company?	Yes     No
Does your business support parent leadership training?	Yes     No
Would your business be willing to allow employees release time to be involved in an extensive parent leadership training program?	Yes     No
Does your business provide on-site parenting skills workshops?	Yes     No
Does your business offer tips and suggestions for parents through employee publications and newsletters?	Yes     No
Total Scores: _____      Yes's: _____   No's:  _____

If you have more "no's" than you would like, consider the ideas and expertise listed below as well as references listed in the end of this test.

Where Do We Start?

Give employees time off during their work day to vote. Use employee publications to address current issues in education. Create an adopt-a-school partnership with your local district. Sponsor employees who want to run for public office especially local school board positions. Make donations of leftover new materials or gently used equipment.

Programs That Work:

Tools for Teachers equipment/materials donation programs
(704)343-6364

Charlotte Mecklenburg Education Foundation
(704)335-0100 (o), (704)334-3545 (f)

CharlotteMecklenburg Schools Partnerships Program use our web site cms.k12.nc.us, (704)343-6217 (o),
(704)343-3991 (f)

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Guidance & Student Services
343-3653

Central Piedmont Community College
(704)330-6566

Resources for Additional Information:

National Education Association	http://www.nea.org
National Parents Teachers Assoc.	http://www.pta.org
The Global Classroom	http://www.globalclassroom.org
National School Boards Assoc.	http://www.nsba.org
New American Schools	http://naschools.org
U.S. Department of Education	http://www.ed.gov
The Education Trust	http://www.edtrust.org
Education Week	http://www.edweek.org
National Association of Secondary School Principals	http://www.nassp.org
National Association of Elementary School Principals	http://www.naesp.org
National Alliance of Business	http://www.nab.com
The Business Roundtable	http://www.brtable.org
SERVEnet	http://www.servenet.org
Bridges Programs for Intellectual Development Systems	http://www.bridgeslearning.com
Standards WorkTM	http://www.goalline.org
National Education Goals Panel	http://www.negp.gov
National Employer Leadership Council	http://www.nelc.org
Achieve	http://www.achieve.org
American Association for Higher Education	http://www.aahe.org
Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development	http://www.ascd.org
Council of Chief State School Officers	http://www.ccsso.org
American Association of School Administrators	http://www.aasa.org
Business Coalition for Education Reform	http://www.bcer.org
National Association of Partners in Education	http://www.partnersineducation.org
National Network of Partnership Schools	http://www.csos.jhu.edu/p2000
LAB at Brown	http://www.lab.brown.edu
Learning and Development Partnership Network	http://www.ladpn.com
Parent'Smart	http://www.parentsmart.com
Families and Work Institute	http://www.familiesandwork.org

Related Links

 

Charlotte Chamber of Commerce
330 S. Tryon St., PO Box 32785
Charlotte, NC 28232
(704) 378-1300