LifeReady Skills

Too many students graduate without essential skills to succeed in life. The Center for Public Education examines how school boards and other education leaders can ensure that students have every opportunity to learn these skills and graduate life ready.

Going Above and Beyond: Achievement of Students Employment Experiences

The Center for Public Education (CPE) explored data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth (NLSY97) and investigated the relationship between students’ employment experiences and their achievements. Our findings suggest that employment experience – appropriate quantity and quality of employee-type jobs – not only has positive effects on students’ grades in academic courses but also helps students to acquire real-world skills.

A New Look at Apprenticeship: Linking School to 21st Century Skills

As high schools provide different programs to acquaint teenagers with workplace demands, “A New Look at Apprenticeship” examines how apprenticeships are used in the U.S. and elsewhere and analyzes their potential impact on developing workplace skills. The report contains useful information to assist school leaders who may be considering adding apprenticeships to their portfolio of college and career-ready programs.