DOCUMENT RESUME ED 425 347 CE 077 749 TITLE Education and Workforce Issues. Public Attitudes and Awareness. INSTITUTION Washington State Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board, Olympia. PUB DATE 1997-00-00 NOTE 27p.; Research conducted by Elway Research, Inc., and Davis Tietze & Co. PUB TYPE Reports Research (143) EDRS PRICE MF01/PCO2 Plus Postage. DESCRIPTORS Dislocated Workers; *Education Work Relationship; *Educational Attitudes; *Educational Needs; Educational Planning; Elementary Secondary Education; Employment Patterns; *Futures (of Society); *Job Training; Postsecondary Education; Public Opinion; Retraining; School Business Relationship; Statewide Planning; Tech Prep; *Vocational Education IDENTIFIERS *Washington ABSTRACT A research project was conducted to assess public attitudes and awareness of workforce training and education issues, with an emphasis on school-to-work transition. The survey was designed to form a baseline against which to measure changes over time in public attitudes and awareness. Data for the research were gathered through executive interviews with key stakeholders, a series of four electronic forums held around the state with 196 participants, and a random sample telephone survey of 603 state residents. The study found that the Washington residents interviewed were generally optimistic about the global economy and the state's place in it. Nearly three-fourths of the respondents thought that Washington is "well prepared" or "very well prepared" to meet the challenges of a global economy. Twice as many responding said that "raising the skill levels for more people" was most significant as said "keeping middle class jobs in Washington state," or "raising the standard of living for the less well-to-do." Most respondents thought that high schools were doing a good job of preparing students for college but doing a poor job preparing students who were not heading to college. Most recognize that new skills will be needed for the new economy and that career preparation should begin during K-12 education. They support a variety of ways to get more skills to more people, including public, private, and public-private partnerships. (KC) ******************************************************************************** * Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made * * from the original document. * ******************************************************************************** WORKFORCE TRAINING 81 EDUCATION COORDINATING BOARD EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE ISSUES PUBLIC ATTITUDES AND AWARENESS 1997 ELWAY RESEARCH, INC. DAVIS TIETZE & CO. / PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE AND S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION DISSEMINATE THIS MATERIAL HAS 0 ice of Educational Research and Improvement E BEEN GRANTED BY CATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) This document has been reproduced as received from the person or organization originating it. 0 Minor changes have been made to improve reproduction quality. TO THE EDUCATIONAL RE URCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) Points of view or opinions stated in this 1 document do not necessarily represent official OERI position or policy. 2 WORKFORCE TRAINING ER EDUCATION COORDINATING BOARD EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE ISSUES PUBLIC ATI-ITUDES AND AWARENESS 1997 ELWAY RESEARCH, INC. DAVIS TIETZE & CO. Page 1 Public Attitudes & Awareness WORKFORCE TRAINING & EDUCATION COORDINATING BOARD EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE ISSUES PUBLIC ATTITUDES AND AWARENESS TABLE OF CONTENTS 2 INTRODUCTION 3 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 6 METHODOLOGY 8 SAMPLE PROFILE SUMMARY OF FINDINGS 11 Preparing for the Global Economy 11 12 Ratings of High School Student Preparation 14 Career Education in the Schools 15 Business and Community Involvement in Education 15 Awareness of School-To-Work Initiatives 16 School-To-Work Described 17 Educational Job Requirements 18 Public Funding of CareerNocational/Skills Training 18 Funding of Re-Training/Upgrading Occupational Skills ... 19 Experience with Skills Training 22 Unemployed Respondents 22 Employment and Training Programs 23 One-Stop Career Center ELWAY RESEARCH, INC. / DAVIS TIETZE & CO. JAN 1997 Page 2 Public Attitudes & Awareness INTRODUCTION This report presents the findings of a research project undertaken Coordinating on behalf of the Workforce Training and Education Board (WTECB) by Elway Research and Davis Tietze & Company The purpose of this research was to assess public of Seattle. attitudes and awareness of workforce training and education issues, with an emphasis on School-to-Work Transition. The survey changes was designed to form a baseline against which to measure over time in public attitudes and awareness. Data for this research were produced by three means: 1. Executive interviews with key WTECB stakeholders; 2. A series of four electronic forums held around the state; 3. A random sample telephone survey of state residents. All three phases of the project were completed in the Summer and Fall of 1996. Questions to be addressed in this research were developed in a collaborative effort between WTECB staff, Elway Research and Davis, Tietze & Co. Data collection and analysis was done by the consultants. A discussion of findings is presented in the next section of this followed by charts of the data and a copy of the report, questionnaire used for the survey. ELWAY RESEARCH, INC. / DAVIS TIME & CO. JAN 1 997 5 Page 3 Public Attitudes & Awareness SUMMARY Washington residents interviewed for this survey were generally optimistic about the global economy and Washington state's place in it. Nearly three-fourths of these respondents thought that Washington is "well prepared" (56%) or "very well prepared" (15%) to meet the challenges of the global economy. What are the "the most significant challenges for Washington state in the global future"? Reflective of the general optimism, twice as many respondents said that "raising the skill levels for mire people" was most significant as said "keeping middle class jobs in Washington state," or "raising the standard of living for the less Raising skill levels is important when the jobs are well to-do." coming; keeping jobs in the state is important when jobs are leaving. Further, raising skill levels enables the less well to do to raise their own standard of living -- a strategy consistent with the prevailing attitude of more personal responsibility. How well is our education system preparing young people for this global future? Most respondents (57%) thought that high schools were doing a good job of preparing students for college but doing a poor job (66%) preparing students who were not heading to college. Given that most respondents vastly over-estimated the number of jobs that will require a college education, this emphasis may not seen as much of a problem. Respondents believe that most jobs will require a college education, and that our high schools are doing a good job of preparing people to go to college; ergo, our high schools are doing what they are supposed to be doing. But college is not everything. And high schools were said to be doing a "good job" by a majority of respondents in only one A majority or near "preparing people for college." objective: majority said our high schools were doing a "poor job" in six other Lowest rated was "for young people not going on to objectives. college, preparing them for life after high school" (66% "poor job"). In line with that thinking, 9 in 10 respondents (87%) agreed that high schools should "provide every student with some kind of career JAN 1997 ELWAY RESEARCH, INC. / DAVIS TIETZE & Co. 6 Public Attitudes & Awareness Page 4 preparation before graduation." Three-fourths (74%) said that career education should begin prior to entering high school. A large majority of respondents believe that high school graduates should acquire work-related skills in school. More than 70% of respondents agreed that students should "definitely" possess each one of six individual work-related skills and abilities when they graduate. Taken together, nearly half of the respondents said that high school graduates should "definitely" possess all six of the skills and abilities listed. Education is not the job of schools alone. Nine in 10 respondents favored having employers, employees and other community members play an expanded role in the education system. Sixty- three percent of respondents were "strongly in favor" of this idea. Further, each of. six example community involvement programs were deemed "appropriate" by at least 9 in 10 respondents. In line with these opinions, nearly all respondents (96%) found "desirable" a system of education which would provide "a strong academic foundation for every student; give every student hands on learning experience; and provide an opportunity for every student to practice what they have learned in a work-based setting." A majority of respondents said it was important to allocate public tax dollars to each of five career, vocational and skills training programs, even "in an era of limited public resources." Four in 10 rated at least four of five programs listed as "important to fund with tax dollars." Two types of worker training were described: training or re-training unemployed workers in new occupational skills and upgrading the occupational skills of individuals currently employed. Funding for such training comes from one of three sources: the individual, businesses or government. Eighty percent of respondents thought that at least "some of the cost" should be borne by all three sources Nearly half (46%) said that for training unemployed workers. "none of the should be borne by of upgrading skills cost" government. Most respondents had personal experience with job skill training. Some 76% had taken a class or training course to upgrade their own job skills. Of those who took training courses; 64% did so to keep up with their current job and 36% did so to get a better job. Most respondents said they would have to upgrade their skills in JAN 1997 ELWAY RESEARCH, INC. / DAVIS TIETZE & CO. 7 Public Attitudes & Awareness Page 5 the future, to keep up with changes in their job, to improve their chance for promotion or to enter a new occupation. Nearly half said that upgrading job skills would take more effort than in the past. Awareness of pertinent programs was not high. Just half of those questioned aware programs were designed of provide to occupational skills retraining for unemployed or dislocated workers. Likewise, half of those responding were aware of programs designed to provide basic reading, writing, math and work skills for Only one in five were aware of public school initiatives adults. such as "School To Work" or "Tech Prep." And fewer than half knew whether their school district offered such programs. Respondents were told that the State of Washington is preparing to change the way it provides employment and training services to those who are working or are unemployed. The system would provide a number of services and would be referred to as a one-stop career center. There was universal agreement that each of the four services lists would be "very important." In summary, Washington residents as represented in this survey are quite optimistic about the global future and Washington's place in it. Most recognize that new skills will be needed for the new economy, that career preparation should begin during K-12 education, and they support a variety of ways to get more skills to more people: public, private, and public-private partnerships. JAN 1 997 ELWAY RESEARCH, INC. / DAVIS TIME & CO. 8 Page 6 Public Attitudes & Awareness ELECTRONIC FORUMS A series of four Electronic Forums was held across the state. The methodology for the Electronic Forums was as follows: A total of 196 people participated in the four SAMPLE: electronic forums. They were recruited to the groups and paid a small honorarium for their participation. Each forum was designed to consist of 10 major each representatives from five Educators; Students; constituent groups: and Labor Business Owners; Parents; Officials. Facilitated discussion with interactive polling. TECHNIQUE: Participants were led through a questionnaire by an Elway Research facilitator. Using Interaction the Group Electronic EGIS, their registered participants System, responses to questions on individual keypads. immediately results tabulated were The displayed and discussed by the group. Aug 14 Yakima LOCATIONS: Aug 15 Spokane Aug 20 Centralia Aug 21 SeaTac in a saved were responses Participant DATA: the at analyzed was database which conclusion of the forums. In addition, each session was video-taped; the tapes the were of portions discussion The transcriptions are included transcribed. in Volume 2 of this report. ELWAY RESEARCH, INC. / DAVIS TIME & CO. JAN 1 997 9 Page 7 Public Attitudes & Awareness TELEPHONE SURVEY This page describes the methods used for the telephone survey phase of the project. 603 Washington adults, selected at random. SAMPLE: The sample included 545 Caucasians and 58 minorities, which is in line with the state To enable comparisons among population. and between ethnic/racial populations in the state, three additional sample groups were The over-samples produced interviewed. working ethnic/racial sub-samples of: 82 African-Americans 77 Asian Americans 75 Hispanic surname residents 10 Native Americans 6 Other or not determined were Respondents survey. Telephone TECHNIQUE: dialing random digit using selected included working techniques which residential prefixes in their proportion to the state population. December 4 to December 9, 1996. FIELD DATES: ±4.1% at the 95% confidence interval. That MARGIN OF ERROR: is, in theory, had all state residents been a 95% chance the interviewed, there is results would be within ±4.1 of the results from this sample. The margin the error each of of for ethnic/racial samples is ±11.5%. Calls were made during weekday evenings DATA COLLECTION: All interviews were and weekend days. trained, professional conducted by interviewers under supervision. Up to three call-backs were made to numbers where there had been no answer. Questionnaires and a edited completeness, were for percentage of each interviewer's call was re- called for verification. JAN 1997 ELWAY RESEARCH, INC. / DAVIS TIETZE & CO. 10