Postsecondary Transitions
Business Leader Research on Preparedness of High School Seniors for Entering the Workforce
Source: Arkansas Department of Education Date: 2006
http://www.arkansased.org/communications/pdf/busldr_stdy_0506.pdf
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This paper summarizes the thoughts of Arkansas business leaders around the preparedness of the state's high school graduates for the workforce. The study, based on results from surveys and two focus groups, shows that business leaders report larger dissatisfaction with the high school graduates' ‘soft skills’ such as communication skills, attitude, and work ethic, than with job-specific ‘hard skills.’ The paper also suggests some implications for high school education.

For example, all of the survey respondents stated that real world experience would greatly improve students’ workplace performance. This resource is especially useful for states who want to engage with business leaders and others in the state and local communities as a way to guide their secondary school redesign efforts.

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Background and Context
In many states, recent legislation or gubernatorial priorities have focused attention on increasing access for high school students to post-secondary options. Small learning communities, advisory systems, individual learning plans, AP and IB classes, dual enrollment programs, exit exams, and the push to increase rigor of high school classes and graduation requirements are approaches states use to guide students through graduation and help them make successful transitions into college.