The Benefits to Bridging Work and School

Abstract

In this article, the authors use the 1997 National Employer Survey to examine the benefits that result from an improved articulation between the nation's economic and educational systems. Specifically, they demonstrate that there are real and substantial benefits to be gained by individual employers that participate in activities related to school reform and the educational process. While the realization of such rewards does not seem to mitigate the current disconnect between employers and schools, those establishments that do engage in school-relevant activities assess more positively the ability of local secondary schools to prepare students for the world of work.