SOUTH CAROLINA Broadband Study Committee December 12, 2007

1. EDUCATION AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ACT OF 2005 SOUTH CAROLINA Broadband Study Committee December 12, 2007

2. The Challenges1. Globalization 2. South Carolina Students Lag Behind 3. The Per Capita Income and Workforce Gaps

3. Challenges:The Per Capita Income Gap 12005 American Community Survey, U.S. Census Bureau.

4. Personal Pathways to Success: A New Vision for Education • Established by The Education and Economic Development Act (EEDA) of 2005 • Integrates academic and career-tech education to offer more and better ways for all students to succeed

5. Elements of the Education and Economic Development Act • Help students connect education to careers of their choice • Increase the number of guidance and career counselors to achieve a 300 students to one counselor ratio • Establish clusters of study and Individual Graduation Plans (IGPs) for students • Provide for parental review and approval of IGP with student and counselor • Identify at-risk students and provide programs to increase graduation rate

6. Elements of the Education and Economic Development Act • Align requirements for high school graduation with college entrance • Establish articulation agreements making K-16 education seamless • Create dual-enrollment agreements for high school and college coursework • Create Regional Centers to connect students, educators, employers, and the community • Create a Coordinating Council to oversee implementation of EEDA

7. Personal Pathways to Success creates a seamless process for education and workforce development through collaboration among: • K-12 • Technical Colleges • 4-Year Institutions • Parent Organizations • Workforce Investment Boards • One Stop Centers • Business Community • Civic Organizations

8. In the Past Making connections among stakeholders was like moving through a maze in which only the most persistent arrive at a mutually beneficial partnership Business Pre K-16 Education and Work Force Development Agencies Business and Education Partnership Economic Development Community

9. Regional Education Centers It’s all about partnering in the community to set priorities and leverage funds and initiatives.

10. The Regional Education Centers Will: • Convene the parties to set targets • Advocate for resources • Monitor progress towards targets • Light fires when progress lags • Find gaps in service delivery and facilitate filling the gaps • Keep the overall regional perspective in mind • Bring the voices and interests of all parties to the attention of the legislators

11. Access to information is critical for students, parents, councilors, educators and businesses leaders who, together will identify “Personal Pathways to Success” for South Carolina’s people

12. SDE and CHE on the verge of implementing many IT Solutions • 12 RECs have been formed and each has a web site • REC websites identify programs for school districts to identify and help students “at risk for graduation” • 65 school districts have electronic IGPs ready for use • Two separate career planning tools are available • SCOIS • Kuder Career Planning Solution • Standard transcript vendor proposals are under review

13. SDE and CHE are identifying vendors that offer other IT Solutions that could be implemented early in 2008 • Secondary to post-secondary course articulation solutions • Business to student connection solutions: • Extended learning opportunities (apprenticeships) • School to work learning experiences • Work shadowing • Speakers for schools and teacher assistant programs • Student information about going to college

14. SC Department of Commerce has just implemented an IT solution that provides detailed up to date information about jobs and career statistics in south Carolina. The WIN Strategic Compass An powerful database for Economic Development Planners

15. Access to these tools is Key to SC step change increase in per capita income • Access means broadband capacity in every Middle and High School in the state • Allow councilors to work with their 300 students and parents in preparing the electronic IGP • Access means enough computers available in schools for student use during and after school • Access means lap tops for students to take home to work with parents on career planning • Access means more than “dial-up” access to internet at their homes

16. With Personal Pathways to Success:Students Win • Enhances academic achievement by providing real-world relevance • Students see a reason to achieve in the classroom • Out-of-classroom learning provide valuable career connections with local businesses • More students graduate and graduates are better prepared for postsecondary success • Sets up seamless postsecondary paths and reduces college expenses by doing so • Offers enhanced guidance and individual planning • Provides multiple avenues to success

17. With Personal Pathways to Success:The Business Community Wins • Improves the quality of graduates entering the workforce by giving them job-specific skills • Gives graduates the “soft” skills—professionalism, punctuality, responsibility, reliability—necessary for success • Facilitates recruiting of new workers and reduces turnover by helping students pinpoint their career interests and talents • Improves the business climate by promoting economic development

18. With Personal Pathways to Success:South Carolina Wins • Gives businesses access to pools of talented students • Uses educational resources more effectively • Grows a highly qualified workforce • Expands the state’s capabilities as a global competitor that can respond to rapid economic change

19. Together, We Can Make Personal Pathways to Success a Reality http://www.scpathways.org