TODAY’S STUDENTS ARE TOMORROW’S EMPLOYEES!

Our businesses and our economy are demanding more of workers - more skill, a more flexible knowledge base and, above all, a greater capacity to learn. Employers need applicants who have a strong academic foundation upon which to build the technical and intellectual expertise that will be required of them on the job. Louisiana Scholars addresses this issue head-on.

Louisiana Scholars is built on the foundation of a strong business/education partnership. The program works only when local business people participate - providing input, influence, and presence in the classrooms. Volunteers first reach the students in the 8th grade, delivering the message directly to the students that high school coursework matters to their future academic, career and business success. This hands-on approach speaks volumes to the students, who feel both validated and motivated by having members of the local business community take a vested interest in their futures.

The role for the business community continues throughout the four years of high school through continuous work with the school system on specific programs that provide academic support to students who have chosen the Louisiana Scholars Core course of study. This support will help ensure that the participating students succeed in the more difficult classes. Educators, businesspeople, and community leaders work together to motivate students, creating incentives, providing support, and recognizing Louisiana Scholars' successes at each step along the way.

THE NEED FOR RIGOR

Bureau of Labor Statistics projections show that 80% of the 50 fastest-growing jobs will require education beyond high school and that 40% of all new jobs will require at least an associate’s degree. Even for those jobs that do not require postsecondary education, employers are seeking employees who are proficient in reading, math and science; who can solve problems; work in teams; and communicate effectively.

Most importantly, they are looking for employees who can learn new technical skills throughout their lives. And yet a large percentage of high school students graduate without the solid academic foundation they need to succeed in higher education and the rapidly evolving workplace. A U.S. Department of Education study found that taking rigorous classes was a more accurate predictor of student success than grades, test scores or class rank, especially among minority students.