How visible are LGBTQ issues in programs that prepare educators to work in schools across Illinois? Which institutions include sexual orientation and gender identity in their policies? Are sexual orientation and gender identity identified in teacher education programs' conceptual frameworks? The Pre-Professional Preparation Project (P-Project) seeks to answer these questions and to report the results via the Visibility Matters report cards. Using only data available from university and college websites, the Visibility Matters report cards evaluate the public face of pre-professional programs across Illinois. This paper describes the project's rationale and goals, history, current status, and potential future directions.

This is the report summary with comprehensive report card. Access the Alliance's IssueLab profile or website for the full report.

How visible are LGBTQ issues in programs that prepare educators to work in schools across Illinois? Which institutions include sexual orientation and gender identity in their policies? Are sexual orientation and gender identity identified in teacher education programs' conceptual frameworks? The Pre-Professional Preparation Project (P-Project) seeks to answer these questions and to report the results via the Visibility Matters report cards. Using only data available from university and college websites, the Visibility Matters report cards evaluate the public face of pre-professional programs across Illinois. This paper describes the project's rationale and goals, history, current status, and potential future directions.

This is the report summary with comprehensive report card. Access the Alliance's IssueLab profile or website for the full report.

Engaging employers with youth in workforce preparation activities is widely supported by program providers as a good practice. Research, although limited, supports this practice as well. This paper describes the findings from 58 interviews with youth program providers, employers, and policy-makers that explored the inclusion of employers in workforce preparation activities for disadvantaged youth. We examined the degree to which youth and employers are prepared to engage with each other, how race and culture influence the entire experience, and whether program and policy efforts to increase employer engagement are in scale with youth program demand. The research highlighted important disconnects between program providers and employers and the affect these disconnects may have on expanding employer involvement. Implications for program development are also discussed.

Engaging employers with youth in workforce preparation activities is widely supported by program providers as a good practice. Research, although limited, supports this practice as well. This paper describes the findings from 58 interviews with youth program providers, employers, and policy-makers that explored the inclusion of employers in workforce preparation activities for disadvantaged youth. We examined the degree to which youth and employers are prepared to engage with each other, how race and culture influence the entire experience, and whether program and policy efforts to increase employer engagement are in scale with youth program demand. The research highlighted important disconnects between program providers and employers and the affect these disconnects may have on expanding employer involvement. Implications for program development are also discussed.

Engaging employers with youth in workforce preparation activities is widely supported by program providers as a good practice. Research, although limited, supports this practice as well. This paper describes the findings from 58 interviews with youth program providers, employers, and policy-makers that explored the inclusion of employers in workforce preparation activities for disadvantaged youth. We examined the degree to which youth and employers are prepared to engage with each other, how race and culture influence the entire experience, and whether program and policy efforts to increase employer engagement are in scale with youth program demand. The research highlighted important disconnects between program providers and employers and the affect these disconnects may have on expanding employer involvement. Implications for program development are also discussed.

Countering assumptions that a college education will be the only ticket to a stable economic future in Illinois, nearly one million openings in middle-skill jobs are projected for the state by 2014, according to a new study by the Skills2Compete-Illinois campaign. While the openings signal new opportunities for Illinois' workforce, the report cites the growing concern that there will not be an adequate number of skilled Illinois workers to fill these positions. The report also finds that two-thirds of the people who will be in Illinois' workforce in the year 2020 were already working adults in 2005 -- long past the traditional high school to college pipeline. The Skills2Compete-Illinois campaign calls for a new vision: every working Illinoisan should have access to at least two years of education or training past high school.

Countering assumptions that a college education will be the only ticket to a stable economic future in Illinois, nearly one million openings in middle-skill jobs are projected for the state by 2014, according to a new study by the Skills2Compete-Illinois campaign. While the openings signal new opportunities for Illinois' workforce, the report cites the growing concern that there will not be an adequate number of skilled Illinois workers to fill these positions. The report also finds that two-thirds of the people who will be in Illinois' workforce in the year 2020 were already working adults in 2005 -- long past the traditional high school to college pipeline. The Skills2Compete-Illinois campaign calls for a new vision: every working Illinoisan should have access to at least two years of education or training past high school.

Countering assumptions that a college education will be the only ticket to a stable economic future in Illinois, nearly one million openings in middle-skill jobs are projected for the state by 2014, according to a new study by the Skills2Compete-Illinois campaign. While the openings signal new opportunities for Illinois' workforce, the report cites the growing concern that there will not be an adequate number of skilled Illinois workers to fill these positions. The report also finds that two-thirds of the people who will be in Illinois' workforce in the year 2020 were already working adults in 2005 -- long past the traditional high school to college pipeline. The Skills2Compete-Illinois campaign calls for a new vision: every working Illinoisan should have access to at least two years of education or training past high school.