Please mark your calendars. The next meeting of the Education to Employment Committee will be:

Participating members:
Tracy Beckman, Chair
Ginny Karbowski

Other participants:
Joyce Haskins, Executive Sponsor, CFL
Dan Smith, Committee Staff
Brad Lundell, guest

1. The meeting was called to order by Tracy Beckman, chair, shortly after 9:00 a.m. Brad Lundell was introduced to the members.

2. Minutes of the October 4, 1999 conference call were accepted as distributed without motion.

3. Discussion was held regarding the general tasks of the Committee. Much of this discussion centered around the concept of "all work is important, and all people will work." Does the concept of work as a component of personal and community development exist? Does the "system" stigmatize work as a track to failure? How does the Education to Employment Committee impact more than career development to address preparation of the workforce? From discussion the following changes to the General Tasks are proposed:
   Education to Employment Committee General Tasks
   (Preparing the Workforce)
   This committee will provide recommendations to prepare new and future workers for the workforce. It will identify issues and resources to promote a seamless provider system and the lifelong learning concept, including:
   
   • Promoting the concept of personal and community development through work.
   • Providing K-12 schools and students with appropriate labor market information to encourage career knowledge, career exploration, and career preparation.
   • Linking Workforce Center System and technology with K-12 schools.
   • Encouraging education to teach students the importance of academic, technical and soft employability skills in the workplace.
   • Promoting achievement to recognized graduation and skill standards.
   • Enhancing and promoting access to technology which provides career information (e.g. ISEEK).
   • Increasing the recognition of personally rewarding employment opportunities, including high quality, technical employment opportunities.

   Ways to address these tasks were discussed. It was noted that some school districts, notably the Anoka-Hennepin schools, have effectively incorporated many of the graduation standards in career & technical education courses, but that record keeping systems still need work. While Anoka-Hennepin can be held as an example where graduation standard implementation is successful, there are many other districts where the implementation has not gone as well. There is need for the Education to Employment Committee to affirm that the graduation standards, coupled with good curriculum, are appropriate means to address accountability in education.

   Discussion also addressed finding ways to address the needs of all learners, especially those under served by traditional instruction. The continuing growth in alternative education programs is indicative of the need to identify at-risk learners at an earlier age and to address their needs appropriately. The Willmar Child Guide program was identified as an effective model.

   Also noted was the connection between the devaluing of certain work and the economic health of rural communities. There is evidence that promotion of certain work over other opportunities is adding to the exodus from rural communities to the urban areas of Minnesota. It would be appropriate for the school system to facilitate actions to reverse this trend.

   At its next meeting, Committee members will be asked to discuss action steps to address the general tasks. Options might include:

   • Concept paper development
   • Identification and dissemination of best practices
   • Advocacy for effective programs.

   The Committee also seeks clarification regarding the relationship between the Governor’s Workforce Development Council and the Mini-Cabinet, and specifically asks that the Commissioners of Children, Families & Learning, and Human Services be invited to participate on the Mini-Cabinet.

   A representative from the Governor’s staff, Representative Seagren or Representative Janezich or their staff, and Senate staff will also be invited to participate at the next meeting of the Committee.

   Committee members requested staff to provide the following background information prior to the next meeting:

   • The Citizens League study, "Help Wanted: More Opportunities than People"
   • The Citizens League study, "Workforce Training for the New Economy" (not yet available)
   • Career & technical education funding information, including the anticipated impact of the elimination of categorical aid
   • Findings and Recommendations of the Legislative Roundtable on Vocational Technical Education: A Report to the 1998 Minnesota State Legislature

   The next meeting of the Education to Employment Committee was set for:

   Friday, December 3 1999
   9:00 – 11:00 a.m.
   Minnesota Department of Children, Families & Learning
   Conference Room W-3
   1500 Highway 36 West (near Snelling Avenue)
   Roseville