WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

What's New

• DOL and DHS Propose Modifications to H-2A Visas for Temporary Agricultural Workers
• ADVANCE-NY training grant application deadline is February 29, 2008
• “I Live New York” Student Internship Grants

2007-08 Legislative Memos

• S.2004 (Robach), Support
  Establishes a High Technology Employment and Training Program at NYSTAR
  
• A.3119 (Schimminger), Support
  Creation of the NYS Strategic Training Alliance Program
• S.5030, Oppose, Standardized testing

Resource Links

Education

• Education New York Online
  Find the latest in education news, research and policy issues, events, and resources covering early learning through higher education in New York state, across the nation, and around the world by clicking on www.educationnewyork.com
• Just for Kids - New York
  Click on www.just4kids.org for easy access to elementary and middle school report cards that include trend data and graphs comparing the school you choose to similar schools. The web site also provides a variety of tools that schools can use to improve. It further links to a site on how communities can support school improvement.
• New York Charter School Resource Center - Information about New York State's Charter School Law, how to establish a charter school, charter schools operating in New York State and related information.
• Private School Review - This site allows you to search for private schools by zip code and type, and make comparisons between them. It also includes information about surrounding communities.
• School Report Cards
  This link takes you to the NYS Education Department school report card information. It provides a wealth of information about schools and how they are performing.
  
  Workforce
  
  
• A no-cost Source of Workers
  VESID (Vocational and Educational Services for Individuals with Disabilities) provides employers with a variety of free services and financial incentives to employ persons with disabilities in entry level to professional and managerial jobs.
• NY Career Zone
  Provides career information in a manner especially geared toward youth. Find out about the skills and talents needed foR virtually any job from entry to professional level. Find out about the careers that are in demand in New York State and explore what they require. This site enables young people to do career planning free of charge in a private password protected section. It provides lesson plans to enable teachers to incorporate career information in their regular courses.

Engage New York

• The Business Council of New York State Engage New York Policy paper
• Engage New York Booklet
  It contains an overview of education reform in New York State and calls on business leaders to voice their support for standards,assessment, accountability and leadership and professional development.

Higher Standards in Education

• IBM to receive award for innovative education initiatives 10/19/2006
• Council: Commitment needed to succeed in technology-driven economy. The Business Council hearing testimony to the Senate Higher Education Committee on the shortage of math, science and engineering graduates.
• Education Summit November 2, 2005
  Nicholas M. Donofrio, IBM's executive vice president for innovation and technology, as a keynote speaker challenged the New York State education system to double the number of science, math and engineering graduates by 2015, to help drive the innovations that will enable the state and the nation to compete in the global economy. Linda Sanford, Chairman of The Business Council Board of Directors, pledged that business will continuously inform schools and teachers about the level of education and skills their employees need in order for them to be competitive employers and will work to increase internship opportunities. Full story. For additional information regarding the Education Summit go to: http://usny.nysed.gov/summit/.
• ISSUE BRIEF: Education Standards and Accountability

New York State School Data

• Summary Data on Student Achievement in New York State. This data is from the NYS Education Department. More detailed data can be found in the Report to the Governor and the Legislature on the Educational Status of the State's Schools at www.emsc.nysed.gov/irts/655report/home.html.
• Individual school report cards can be found at: www.emsc.nysed.gov.

School Funding

• New Yorkers' per-pupil school spending moves from third highest to highest, Census Bureau data show (May 24, 2007)

School Tax Watch

• School Districts again plan to raise spending at twice the inflation rate, Study finds (May 2, 2006)

Publications

• Handbook encourages business leaders to work to improve schools, especially by serving on school boards 8/4/03
• Report: Twenty-seven school districts, including all of the 'Big 5,' are called 'failing' by SED 6/23/03
• Report: New York should prepare for much greater use of computers in education; the state lags most others in this area 5/5/03
• Report: New York's higher-education system is a bargain for taxpayers 12/10/02
• Report: To close budget gap, Albany must reject persistent myths about education spending 11/15/02
• Report: New York's public charter schools are meeting formidable challenges, 3/12/02

News Stories

• Magazine: Eighteen of nation's top 100 high schools are in New York (November 30, 2007)
• New York's colleges connect through 'Web portal' (August 15, 2007)
• Web site offers new information on activities to promote studies and careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics 12/6/06
• Schumer proposes federal program to recruit, retain top math and science teachers 11/2/06
• IBM to receive award for innovative education initiatives 10/19/2006
• New York education statistics show high costs for average results (August 7, 2006)

Business Council's Corning Award for Excellence

• Alair Townsend, longtime fiscal policy leader and an influential publisher and business leader, to receive 2007 Corning Award (September 6, 2007)
• Past Corning Award winners

Key Contacts