Business and Education working together to promote a rigorous and relevant educational system that prepares high school students to gain essential skills; effectively transition from high school to post-secondary education, training and careers; and succeed in the new, global economy.

East County Business – Education Alliance

2009-2010 Strategic Vision Plan

Keith Archuleta, Emerald Consulting

Executive Director/Project Consultant

The East County Business-Education Alliance is a nonprofit organization that brings Contra Costa County business, labor, government, community, higher education, and chambers of commerce together with the school districts of Antioch, Liberty Union, and Pittsburg to foster a strategic vision and build strategic partnerships that support and equip high school students for life, post-secondary education, training, and careers. The Alliance also works closely with the Mt. Diablo school district, which serves Bay Point.

The Global and Local Context

In today’s global, technology-driven economy, the skills necessary to succeed in the workforce and in college have converged. All students must have access to a rigorous and relevant curriculum that provides them with the skills they will need to have real life choices. To succeed in the workplace as well as college, students must be able to meet high academic standards and gain essential skills. 

Yet, the United States is losing ground in academic achievement and school graduation rates. Approximately one-third of all California high school students today drop out of school. Experts estimate that as many as another third receive their diplomas, but are unprepared to succeed in college or the workplace and therefore unprepared to succeed in a constantly and rapidly changing world.

In addition, surveys of Contra Costa employers indicate that “soft skills” are the primary missing piece in entry-level employee preparation. The key factors in their failure to keep employment was a lack of ability to accept criticism, poor attendance, lack of punctuality, and a general lack of soft skills. A recent statewide poll revealed that more than 90 percent of ninth and tenth graders believe tying classes to their future and real-world careers would inspire them to work hard and do well in school. 

Our Mission and Focus

The Alliance is committed to expanding career-integrated academic opportunities for local students and promoting a rigorous and relevant curriculum that prepares high school students to effectively transition from high school to college and career. We want all students to gain the essential skills to successfully compete and prosper in today’s global economy. We want them to graduate in higher numbers, ready for college and the workplace. Based on best practice studies, focus group research, and surveys of local business and education leaders, our long-term effort in the East County region includes proven initiatives to address the dropout crisis and help our schools engage and prepare students for college and the workplace.

Our Overarching Goals

• Rigorous and relevant education that encourages all students to engage in school

• Educational pathways that connect academics with emerging and thriving industries and challenging careers

• Community commitment to increasing the number of students who graduate ready for both college and work

• Involvement of high school, postsecondary education, business and industry in best practice strategies

• Data-driven, outcomes-based pathway strategies, essential skills curriculum, systems coordination, and teacher professional development.

Our Strategic Initiatives

In 2009-10, the Alliance is engaged in the following strategic initiatives:

Initiative #1: Career Themed Academic Pathways

These are comprehensive programs of academic and technical study organized around broad industry themes leading to a full range of postsecondary options and career success. They connect academics to real world applications and have a thematic, practical focus that inspires students to achieve. Learning is project-based, student-centered, and rigorous and relevant. Pathways data has shown higher CAHSEE pass rates, higher “a to g” completion rates, and higher state test scores.

We foster business partnerships, teacher professional development, quality work-based learning opportunities, and postsecondary articulation to help build career integrated pathway education programs connected to high wage, high demand, high growth industries in Contra Costa. Our particular focus is on pathways that promote science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education. Jobs that require a STEM education tend to be higher paying and the number of STEM jobs will grow 20% between 2006 and 2016

Initiative #2:  Business-Education Roundtable Luncheons

The Alliance will host 2-3 “Preparing for a Changing World” Business-Education Roundtable luncheons to inform the public about the trends, needs and developments in education and workforce preparation.

Initiative #3:  Work Ready Essential Skills

We have identified the 10 Work-Ready Essential Skills most cited by employers and educators that students must have to be ready to enter the workforce and to successfully transition to college.  Students who have acquired these 10 Essential Skills before graduating from high school will be better lifelong learners and able to succeed in college and in the workplace of today and tomorrow. They are skills for life.

1. Write and speak to communicate

2. Read with understanding

3. Use math to analyze and solve problems

4. Access information and use computer technology

5. Actively listen and take initiative

6. Be punctual and reliable

7. Exercise honesty and integrity

8. Work accurately and safely

9. Resolve conflicts and negotiate

10. Cooperate with others and work in teams

We will provide opportunities for high school career tech and academic teachers to explore incorporating work-ready/essential skills demonstration through portfolios in pathway programs in each district. In conjunction with this effort, Emerald Consulting is developing Work-Based Learning (WBL) model guidelines for pathways.

Initiative #4: County - Wide Strategies, Planning and Activities 

We have focused regionally on:

• Developing the workforce pipeline to high-wage, high-skill, high-demand careers in strategic industry sectors: Health; BioTech; Environmental Sciences; and Engineering, Construction & Manufacturing.
• Focusing on student success connected to real people doing real things in the local economy.
• Bringing together K-16, business, labor and government focused on seamless system development.

We will continue the collaborative work of our ECBEA Board and partner organizations - including the LMC Business-Workforce Advisory Board, local high school CTE advisory boards, the P-16 Academic Council, Contra Costa Economic Partnership, the Workforce Development Board, and the Contra Costa Council Workforce Development and Education Task Force - to leverage, coordinate and facilitate regional activities.

Organizations Participating in the Alliance:

Antioch Unified School District, Liberty Union High School District, Pittsburg Unified School District

Contra Costa County Office of Education, Los Medanos College, CSU East Bay-Concord

John Muir Health, Kaiser Permanente, Sutter Delta Medical Center, Contra Costa Economic Partnership

Dow Chemical Company, USS POSCO, Delta Diablo Sanitation District, PG&E, NECA/IBEW Local #302

Ralph Garrow Real Estate, American Trophies, Antioch Chamber of Commerce, Emerald Consulting