Committee of 100's Technical Education Plan

The Committee of 100 adopted a goal in 2008 to expand and improve technical education in our three school systems in four targeted areas critical for workforce development in the next decade -- advanced manufacturing, construction and trades, hospitality and healthcare. We contracted with the Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama to study the technical programs in all three school systems and best practices throughout the United States, and develop a report on ways to improve and expand our programs. We also asked them to recommend ways to attract more students into technical education fields, particularly in the four targeted areas. The final Technical Education Plan was released on June 29, 2009.

Educators from all three school systems -- Huntsville, Madison and Madison County -- provided input for this report. Members of our Technical Education Task Force also contributed many hours in providing input and ideas on the content and implementation plan. This is a partnership plan -- one that requires us as business leaders to step up and provide educators with greater input and support as we work on these goals together.

We are now forming a business and education coalition to work together to implement this plan. Our partners include the Association of Builders & Contractors, Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville-Madison County, Homebuilders Association, Junior Achievement of North Alabama, and a group of restaurant owners and managers. Working together with our school leaders, we can meet the workforce needs and provide all of our students with an improved quality of life.

2009 PARCA Report to Improve Local K-12 Technical Education
Status Report on Committee of 100 Goals