Jay Rockefeller: “America's future lies with its children. Recognizing the importance of providing educational and occupational training…”

“America's future lies with its children. Recognizing the importance of providing educational and occupational training for today's youth, I am proud to cosponsor the School-to-Work Opportunities Act. This legislation represents part of an overall strategy to reform our American educational system, and it specifically seeks to enhance the transition to work for young people. The provisions of this bill reaffirm this Nation's commitment to the education and employment of today's youth. The bill's goal is to unite partnerships of employers and educators to create a high quality school-to-work program that assists students in the transition from school to a well-paying first job. The legislation maps out a new strategy to achieve this goal. First, it establishes components and goals for successful school-to-work programs. Next, it seeks to integrate work-based and school-based learning to provide students with additional skills.”