U.S. Chamber Urges More College Prep, Internships for Students Preparing for the Future

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The United States Chamber of Commerce today joined Education Secretary Rod Paige and Gov. Paul Patton, (D-KY), to urge for more college preparatory courses and internship programs for high school students preparing for the future. The call came following the release of a report by the Department of Education that showed students were not adequately equipped for entering college, the work force and adulthood.

"For too many students, the senior year of high school has become a rest stop rather than a launching pad for work and postsecondary education," said Beth B. Buehlmann, executive director of the Chamber's Center for Workforce Preparation and a member of the National Commission on the High School Senior Year. "Our students are leaving school ill-prepared for the challenges and demands of a changing world."

The National Commission on the High School Senior Year, established more than a year ago by the Department of Education, has examined how well students fare following the transition from high school. The Commission's findings and recommendations are contained in a new report, "Raising Our Sights: No School Senior Left Behind." The report illustrates the major problems students face and provides recommendations for schools around the country.

"One of the major problems we're seeing is that our education system operates as if each level of education is independent from the next," continued Buehlmann. "We need to further discuss ways that we can bring more cohesion in our schools to ensure students are ready for the real world."

The U.S. Chamber's Center for Workforce Preparation worked with the commission and the Department of Education to identify and develop the specific recommendations contained in the final report.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world's largest business federation representing more than three million businesses and organizations of every size, sector and region.

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