Your Choices Today Make a Difference Tomorrow

1. 4-D Your Choices Today Make a Difference Tomorrow Education GO Get It Campaign

2. 4-D Global Competition . . . . . . requires a strong academic foundation. Photograph licensed from PictureQuest, LLC.

3. 4-D Career Opportunities • Demand is growing for highly skilled workers. Photograph licensed from Getty Images, Inc.

4. 4-D Where are the qualified applicants? • 25 Applicants • – 21 Do Not Qualify • 4 Qualify “We can place roughly 17% of job applicants because many applicants simply lack the necessary basic education skills required in today’s labor market.” Texas Workforce Commission

5. 4-D Prepare now for life! • High school choices are important. • You will work 40 to 50 years of your life. • Choose something that you enjoy doing! Photograph licensed from PictureQuest, LLC.

6. 4-D Your Ticket to College or Technical School = Georgia’s College Preparatory and Technical/Career Preparatory Programs Requirements (Units): Georgia’s College Preparatory and Technical/Career Preparatory Programs [Source: Georgia Code IHF(4), 160-4-2-.46] Note: Students who wish to be eligible for the HOPE Scholarship Program should check with their counselors regarding current HOPE Scholarship requirements. See Appendix 6, “Georgia’s HOPE Scholarship Program.” For more details about Georgia requirements for graduation, go to www.doe.k12.ga.us/_documents/doe/legalservices/160-4-2-.46.pdf, a Web site of the Georgia Department of Education. Also, local requirements may exceed state requirements; check with your local school system.

7. 4-D Georgia’s College Preparatory and Technical/Career Preparatory Programs offer many benefits. • You’ll be better prepared for college. • You’ll be more likely to qualify for a HOPE scholarship and other scholarship and grant awards. • You can earn better scores on the SAT and ACT college entrance exams, as well as on other standardized tests.

8. 4-D IMAGINE… • Your job as a high school graduate… • $24,000 per year = $2,000 per month Photograph licensed from Getty Images, Inc.

9. 4-D $2,000Monthly Budget AmountRemaining How far does a $24,000 annual salary go? • Federal Income Tax (10%) $200 $1,800 • Social Security Tax (7.65%) 153 1,647 • Medical/Dental Insurance 50 1,597 • Housing (Rent—1 Bdrm., Unfurn.) 400 1,197 • Food 300 897 • Car Payments 300 597 • Insurance 100 497 • Gas, Oil, etc. 60 437 • Telephone 25 412 • Utilities 100 312 • Clothing 50 262 • Entertainment 50 212 • Savings 50 162 • Personal Items 50 112 • Medical Expenses 25 87 • Furniture, TV, Appliances 75 12 • Miscellaneous 12 0

10. 4-D What kind of paycheck would you like to take home? High School Dropout High School Graduate $5.15 x 40 hrs./wk. $206.00 x 52 wks./yr. $10,712.00 $11.54 x 40 hrs./wk. $461.60 x 52 wks./yr. $24,000.00

11. 4-D World-Class Jobs • Starting salaries with two-year associate’s degree, diploma, or certificate Court Reporting $37,000 Occupational Safety $35,000 Medical Sonography $33,500 Electrician $32,000 Physical Therapy Assistant $30,400 Chemical Technology $29,500 Computer Electronics $28,000 Architectural Design $26,400 Electronic Technology $25,300 Update per Texas Workforce Commission, Wage Information Network Photograph licensed from Getty Images, Inc.

12. 4-D World-Class Jobs • Starting salaries with bachelor’s degree Math/Statistics $49,000 Mechanical Engineer $41,000 Network Administrator $35,000 Nursing (R.N.) $34,000 Economics & Finance $34,000 Accountant $30,000 Business Operations $28,000 Specialist Update per Texas Workforce Commission, Wage Information Network Photograph licensed from Getty Images, Inc.

13. 4-D Careers in Georgia The Five Fastest-Growing Careers in Georgia Projected to 2010 • From: Georgia Occupational Trends in Brief: Projections to 2010. • Georgia Department of Labor, Michael L. Thurmond, Commissioner. • www.dol.state.ga.us/wp/occupational career trends.htm • www.quickstats.dol.state.ga.us/demand/wages/major

14. 4-D A Sample of Georgia Hourly Wages By Occupation/Training Level Postsecondary, Vocational Training (Diploma) Short-Term, On-the-Job Training Source: Georgia Department of Labor http://quickstats.dol.state.ga.us/demand/wages/EduTrain/Wages_By_EduCode.htm ** Hot Jobs: Above average growth and above average wages.

15. 4-D A Sample of Georgia Hourly Wages By Occupation/Training Level Associate’s Degree (2 years) Bachelor’s Degree Source: Georgia Department of Labor http://quickstats.dol.state.ga.us/demand/wages/EduTrain/Wages_By_EduCode.htm ** Hot Jobs: Above average growth and above average wages.

16. 4-D Highlights: Georgia Wage Survey, July 2003 Georgia Department of Labor Georgia Wages, By Education/Training/Experience (Statewide) Highlights: Georgia WagesGeorgia Wage Survey, July 2003 Source: Georgia Wage Survey, July 2003 Georgia Department of Labor, Michael L. Thurmond, Commissioner ftp://quicksource.dol.state.ga.us/Current/wagesurveycurrent.pdf

17. 4-D What is Georgia’s HOPE Scholarship Program? • Helping Outstanding Pupils Educationally (HOPE) • Largest state-funded grant program in Georgia • Financial assistance for selected students in most degree, diploma, and certificate programs • Apply for scholarships or grants for most public or private colleges, including technical colleges • Some monies available for GED students • Specific requirements and further information at www.GAcollege411.org Photograph licensed from Getty Images, Inc.

18. 4-D Who is your competition for the hot jobs? • The other students in this room • The other students in your community • The other students in Georgia • The other students in the U.S. • All other students around the world

19. 4-D Look into your future! • You must prepare yourself • NOW • by making choices that will give you • Good Options • later on in your life! Photograph licensed from Getty Images, Inc.

20. 4-D Questions? • Contact Education GO Get It at • www.georgiago.org • Or • 1-866-GO-4-GRAD Photograph licensed from Getty Images, Inc.