Three of four identify middle and high school as the right time to
explore possible career paths
HERNDON, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jun. 13, 2017--
The vast majority of Americans believe U.S. high school students should
have more opportunities to learn real-world skills in the classroom,
highlighting a national preference among parents and the general
population for experiential, career-focused learning opportunities over
traditional forms of education.
The results of the national survey of more than 1,000 members of the
U.S. general public are detailed in the report “State of the Skills Gap:
Perceptions of the role high school plays in preparing students for
success in career,” released today by Edge Research and K12 Inc.
“On the same day the President of the United States is talking about the
importance of career training and apprenticeships, the ‘State of the
Skills Gap’ survey provides us with a deeper understanding of the
public’s views of the skills gap and, most importantly, its causes and
potential solutions,” said Stuart Udell, CEO of K12.
During a visit to Waukesha County Technical College in Wisconsin
Tuesday, President Donald Trump is to promote apprenticeships as an
alternative entry point to careers that do not require a college degree.
The “State of the Skills Gap” survey suggests students should be exposed
to alternatives even earlier.
“It’s clear from this research that the American people think students
should be seriously considering their career paths in high school if not
earlier,” Udell said, “and that those students should have access to a
wide variety of courses that will expose them to different jobs and give
them the real-world skills they’ll need to succeed in them.”
Key findings of the survey include:
-
95 percent of Americans agree that all U.S. high school students
should have more opportunities to learn real-world skills and study
programs like manufacturing, IT, business management and health care.
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82 percent of respondents say young people and those entering the
workforce today are not equipped with the skills they need to succeed
in the jobs available.
-
Only 12 percent of Americans give their high school an “A” grade in
preparing them for the job they are doing right now. Half of
respondents gave their high school a “C,” “D” or “F” grade.
-
Parents want their children to come out of high school with a mix of
soft and hard skills, including critical thinking skills, real-world
skills needed for a job, communication skills and computer skills.
-
76 percent of Americans say middle or high school is the right time to
start exploring possible career options, compared to just 7 percent
who say college is the right time.
-
56 percent of parents said two years of work experience is more
valuable than a four-year liberal arts degree, compared to 16% who
said the degree would be more valuable.
The survey also explored perceptions of Career Technical Education
(CTE), which consists of elective courses designed to expose students to
career pathways and equip them with the knowledge and skills required
for in-demand jobs. It found overwhelming support for expanding access
to CTE options for all high-school students, whether they plan to start
a career or continue their education in college.
Key findings related to CTE include:
-
90 percent of Americans agree that CTE should be offered in every high
school in America, with nearly universal support (98%) among families
with direct experience taking CTE courses.
-
87 percent of parents said they wished they had had the opportunity to
take CTE in school.
-
96 percent of parents said CTE is a good option for students who want
to start a career immediately after high school, with 88 percent
saying CTE is a good option for students who are college-bound.
-
88 percent of Americans said CTE will help fill demand for highly
skilled workers, while 69 percent said the United States won’t have
enough workers in high-growth sectors such as health care and
engineering without CTE.
-
79 percent of parents are interested in CTE courses and programs that
combine online learning with in-class instruction, with nearly all (93
percent) agreeing that online learning is a good option for career
training because it is more up-to-date and flexible.
The full “State of the Skills Gaps” report is available online at http://www.k12.com/career-technical-education.html
About K12 Inc.
K12 Inc. (NYSE: LRN) is driving innovation and advancing the quality of
education by delivering state-of-the-art, digital learning platforms and
technology to students and school districts across the globe. K12’s
curriculum serves over 2,000 schools and school districts and has
delivered more than four million courses over the past decade. K12 is a
company consisting of thousands of online school educators providing
instruction, academic services, and learning solutions to public schools
and districts, traditional classrooms, blended school programs, and
directly to families. The K12 program is offered through K12 partner
public schools in 33 states and the District of Columbia, and through
private schools serving students in all 50 states and more than 100
countries. More information can be found at K12.com.
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Source: K12 Inc.
K12 Inc.
Press Contact:
Mike Kraft, 571-353-7778
VP
Communications
mkraft@k12.com