December 2001

BACKGROUND: Ten years ago, Oregon began working to ensure that every student in public schools graduated with the skills and knowledge to succeed in a world that is higher-tech, more information driven, and faster-paced. New standards were set and educators are striving to help students succeed. The result: test scores are up across the board and more students are engaged in their learning.

This long-term effort is at an important crossroad and the help of community members statewide is needed. The Oregon Business Council (OBC), its education subsidiary, E3 (Employers for Education Excellence), and the Oregon University System have recognized that a team approach, with businesses and community members pitching in to work with educators, parents, and students - is essential. With the generous support of the Washington Mutual Foundation, E3 has developed a statewide communications campaign called E3: Employers for Education Excellence to help employers and community leaders understand the importance of Oregon’s new standards and how to support students to reach them. The goals of the campaign are to:

• Celebrate the positive results of Oregon’s efforts at raising standards in the K-12 public schools.
• Communicate the advantages of supporting higher standards from a business perspective.
• Encourage employers to take specific actions to support higher standards and promote their value, both in schools and in the workplace.

WHAT THEY DO: To reach a broad section of employers and community leaders E3 gives 30-minute presentations to employer groups such as Chambers of Commerce and Rotary Clubs across the state. The presentation features an interactive Power Point format with video testimonials at the elementary, middle, and high school levels.

Connection to Local Schools: A local school administrator typically introduces the presentation. In addition, a local student typically participates in the presentation by providing a 3-4 minute description of their experience with the Certificate of Initial Mastery (CIM) and possibly the Certificate of Advance Mastery (CAM). Students are asked to explain what they had to do to meet one or more of the CIM benchmarks (e.g. writing, math, speech) and how this has prepared them for the moving on to college, entering the workforce or a combination of the two. They might also be asked to describe an internship or a school project that they found meaningful.

Employers are encouraged to support students to reach higher standards through one or more of the following strategies:

• Help more students reach benchmarks through tutoring and mentoring.
• Provide real-life learning opportunities such as job shadows, internships and real-life projects.
• Offer incentives to students for hard work and achievement.
• Modify hiring practices.
• Share information with others.

RESULTS: As of December 2001, about 18 presentations have been made throughout Oregon. “We’re getting excellent feedback and requests to do more and more presentations,” says Léger, noting school administrators at COSA’s Leadership Institute previewed the presentation in the summer. “The presentation helps education, business, and community leaders to understand Oregon’s vision for raising standards and advancing student achievement. When education leaders see our presentation, many have said their own staff should see it, too,” Léger adds. “We’re excited about expanding the campaign in 2002.”

By the end of 2001, E3: Employers for Education Excellence will have been presented to the following organizations and companies:

• A-dec employees, 
• Albina Rotary Club
• Ashland Rotary Club
• The Dalles Chamber of Commerce
• Dayton Chamber of Commerce +school district staff
• Intel employees
• Keizer Chamber of Commerce Executive Committee
• Newport Chamber of Commerce
• North Clackamas Rotary Club
• Oregon State Board of Education
• Oregon School Boards Association state conference attendees
• St. Helens High School staff + key chamber members
• State Farm Insurance employees
• Waldport Chamber of Commerce Education Committee

FUTURE PLANS: The E3 campaign will reach other communities statewide in 2002. They also plan to build on this work by collaborating with other statewide organizations to develop a statewide communications strategy that will result in stronger public understanding and support for Oregon’s implementation of higher standards.

	Learn more about E3's mentoring program
	About the executive director

On-site mentor program

This fall E3 launched its new work-based mentoring program. The goal of this pilot program is to create an on-site program that is user-friendly for employers and helps students achieve higher academic standards, participate in career exploration and other work-based activities. The pilot program will match 45 students from Grant High School (PPS), Metropolitan Learning Center (PPS) and Southridge High School (Beaverton School District) in one-to-one relationships over the course of the school year. Mentors will meet with students two times per month for approximately two hours per session.

Employer partners include the following companies:

• Intel Corporation
• Multnomah County
• PacifiCorp
• Planar Systems
• Portland General Electric
• Providence Health System
• US Bank
• Wacker Siltronic

Mentors completed a three-hour orientation/training program in October that was developed by E3 and the State of Oregon. The kick-off meetings for Grant and Southridge high schools were held in November; Metropolitan Learning Center will follow with a kick-off meeting in December. E3 has also developed a new section on their website as a resource for the mentors. The website provides mentors and mentees with a variety of activities that can be completed during the mentorship. For more information about the pilot program visit: www.e3oregon.org.

René Léger, Executive Director, E3

René is the Executive Director of E3 (formerly Worksite 21), a non-profit organization launched in 1996 by the Oregon Business Council to help employers build and maintain partnerships with education. E3 provides consulting assistance, networking opportunities, communications materials, and training to help companies and their employees strategic long-term partnerships between employers and schools that lead to higher student achievement and the development of a stronger future workforce.