WORC will facilitate and advance the process whereby all learners will be given opportunities to prepare for successful employment and citizenry.

We believe that our vision will lead us to 2003 with all stakeholders being able to access information and communicate needs. Through our website and local database anyone will be able to utilize the community resources. The website and database developed by WORC will be sustained through the establishment of fees for advertising. The entire learning community will be involved in educational decision making. The community will be concerned with more than the usual 3B’s (basketball, buses and beans) that consume school administrators and boards. Business will be consistently dialoging with schools and community agencies. Students and parents will be an intricate part of planning and decision making at all levels.

The learning environment will be real world based. K-6 students will have opportunities to explore careers. Curriculum at this level will be integrated with career information. Examples used in classrooms will be taken from the community. Teachers will use real world examples to develop problem-solving exercises, which will be integrated throughout the curriculum. Math problems, for example, will include those developed by business representatives teaming with teachers. Students will have opportunities to explore careers through field trips/business tours. They will also have community members in their learning environment as speakers, mentors, and classroom volunteers, serving as role models.

In the middle school years, the activities which enhance learning at the elementary level will be continued. In addition, the formulation of informed career goals would begin at this level. Students will match their interest and talents to broad career areas. Utilizing local and regional career fairs, CIS information, and career exploration experience students and their parents will develop an Individual Career Plan (ICP). The ICP will be utilized throughout high school.

High school students will have the advantage of connected school-based and work- based learning experiences. Education will no longer be confined within the walls of a school building. The partnerships with the Workforce Opportunities Resource Consortium network will prepare students for transition to work and/or post-secondary education and a lifetime of continued learning experiences. Through the use of school-based and work-based learning facilitators, all learners will have integrated, seamless educational opportunities. Depending on individual interest and abilities, experiences can include the use of corporate campus, dual credit, job shadowing, internship, and/or apprenticeship experiences.

Post-secondary education, retraining, value-added training, or life long learning, no matter what you call it, education is continuous. Technology will play a very important role at this level. Not only will training be necessary to respond to technological changes, but also technology will be utilized to deliver training. A statewide network of community colleges will deliver curriculum via the Internet and distance learning. This network will allow learners to access specialized curriculum regardless of the geography of the provider. Short term intensive training or just in time training will be readily available as business connects continuously with training providers. The database and web page developed by WORC and linked to IETC will not only provide schools and learners with information about jobs and educational opportunities it will also provide business with needed contacts for training and potential employees. Training at this level will include necessary work links. Internships, apprenticeships, training delivered at the worksite, and trainers from business will be commonplace in 2003.

The system we see in 2003 will include community and business partnerships facilitating the communication of needs, sharing of resources, and having ownership of the system. The education cycle is ongoing including the involvement of all members of the community, students, parents, educators, labor and human resource agencies. Schools, businesses, community agencies, advisory committees and individuals will share their time and expertise to enrich and enhance the learning environment for all learners. We believe this system will be self-sustaining, as it will be built upon successful practices of which participants have ownership.