Assessment of the Technical Training Needs of the Lawrence Community: How the Current System is Working

Abstract

The Policy Research Institute at The University of Kansas conducted four focus groups with former students, technical educators, counselors, and high school administrators from Douglas County schools. Additionally, three individual telephone interviews were held with recent graduates of Lawrence and Free State High Schools. The purpose was to gain a better understanding of how well the current system of technical training is working.

The needs of the business community, schools, and students are highly interrelated. The business community wants access to motivated workers possessing basic employability skills. Employers want to play a more active role in career education to increase awareness of local opportunities for good paying jobs and careers. Schools want to prepare students to be successful in the workforce, college, and other post-graduation pursuits. Schools are also interested in engaging the business community in order to create practical linkages between education and the workforce. Students want to understand how what they learn in the classroom transfers to the jobs and education they will pursue after they graduate. Students crave more in-depth information from the business community about career options and pathways, applying for jobs, and being a good employee. Each group—the business community, schools, and students—has a stake in the success of the other group. Working together may offer the best opportunity for successfully meeting the needs of all the stakeholders. Developing a cooperative technical education program in Douglas County is one tangible way to address the needs of the business community, schools, and students.