News You Need To Know

Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers Online Resource. A new website provides information and updates on the progress of the 25-state consortium in developing a next generation common assessment system aligned to the Common Core State Standards in English and mathematics. It includes information about the partnership's goals, governance structure, key stakeholders, timeline, and challenges. It also presents information about the consortium's assessment efforts, including the major design elements and development work. In addition, the website highlights issues that states, districts, and/or schools need to address to successfully implement the Common Core State Standards and the assessments. Each of the 25 member states has a page with information on the K-12 and postsecondary leaders managing the work in each state, as well as information on the state's implementation of the Common Core State Standards. Check it out: www.parcconline.org

ManpowerGroup 2011 survey indicates hardest position to fill are skilled trade. ManPowerGroup surveyed more than 1,300 U.S. employers. The survey reports the number one position hardest to fill are skilled trades for manufacturing and other production work. The survey highlights employers seeking people with key technical trade skills. Even during high unemployment times in the United States, employers are finding difficult to fill positions. Employers' primary reasons for having trouble finding qualified people is often due to the lack of technical skills and experience in the the skill trades. Learn more….