STEP RESOURCES

STEP was founded as a means to respond to the issues surrounding the dropout rate in Boston Public Schools. STEP is positioned among several excellent organizations that are committed to addressing the obstacles to success for our students and for our City's future workforce. The following provides background information on these issues.

• The Drop Out epidemic: Project Dropout

  According to the Massachusetts Dept of Education, "In 2008, the 4 year Graduation Rate for Boston Public High School students was just under 60%". In 2009, Boston public broadcasters WBUR and WGBH produced a comprehensive series on this issue. They frame the issue in this way: "According to a recent study by the Education Trust, the United States is now the only industrialized country where youths are less likely than their parents to earn a high school diploma. What's being referred to nationally as the "silent epidemic" has ramifications for individuals and communities in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts few of us can imagine."

  To learn more, click here: Project Dropout

• Today's students, Tomorrow's workforce: Did You Know?

  In their charge to prepare students for the 21st century, our schools are challenged to address the imperatives for change brought about by globalization and exponential growth in information. The following 5 minute presentation "Did you Know", created by High School administrator, Karl Fisch summarizes this challenge: The amount of new technical information is doubling every 2 years. This means that for students starting a 4-year degree, half of what they learn in their 1st year of study will be outdated by their 3rd year of study. Fisch's conclusion: "We are preparing students for jobs that don't yet exist; using technologies that haven't yet been invented."

  To learn more, click here: Did You Know?

• The Millennial Generation in the Workplace: "Generation Why"

  Consultant Eric Chester specializes in helping employers work with their Generation Y employees, and he coined the phrase "Generation Why" to refer to the generation of children born to Baby Boomers.
  

  To learn more, click here: Generation Why
  Click here for 13 Things Every Manager Needs to Know about Generation Why Employees

• Call to Action for the Business: The Partnership for 21st Century Skills

  The Partnership for 21st Century Skills is an advocacy organization comprised of education, business, community and government leaders. Their mission is to position 21st century skills at the center of US K-12 education by building collaborative partnerships among education, business, community and government leaders. They urge businesses to partner with local school systems, to increase mentoring and exposure to real world experiences for students.

  In a 2006 collaborative effort, the Partnership for 21st Century Skills produced "Are They Really Ready to Work?" a comprehensive report on Employers' perspective of the workplace readiness skills of the 21st Century US workforce.

  For a brief excerpt of report recommendations click here: Call to Action
  To learn more click here: The Partnership for 21st Century Skills