Job Shadowing Program Shows Positive Impact

Beginning with a nationwide kickoff on January 31, 2003, and continuing throughout the school year, students across America "shadow" workplace mentors as they go through a normal day on the job. The students get to see firsthand how the skills learned in school relate to the workplace. Job Shadowing is led by the National Job Shadow Coalition, which includes America's Promise, Junior Achievement, and the U.S. Department of Labor.

The National Job Shadow Coalition recently announced the results of an initial, formative evaluation that assessed student and teacher satisfaction with the National Job Shadowing program. The evaluation was conducted by the Western Institute for Research and Evaluation and commissioned by Junior Achievement to evaluate the implementation of the JA Job Shadowing program. The study confirmed that more than 86 percent of students report that participation in Job Shadowing activities positively changed their attitudes about working.

Last year, more than one million students were able to experience job shadowing activities thanks to the participation of over 100,000 employers across the U.S. For additional information including a How-to Guide and an online training presentation on how to coordinate job shadowing, visit . Pre-printed materials can be ordered by calling 800-373-3174.

WIA Learning Exchange for Youth Systems

WIA Learning Exchanges for Youth Systems are two-and-a-half-day regional meetings designed to highlight promising practices at exemplary WIA sites, foster peer-to-peer information sharing and develop team-driven action plans in three areas:

• Recruiting and retaining out-of-school youth.
• Building and sustaining partnerships, especially with the education community.
• Defining and aligning assessments, skill achievement and credentials.

The American Youth Policy Forum (AYPF) and the National Youth Employment Coalition (NYEC) are now seeking applications. Local teams should consist of the following individuals:

• A Youth Council member (preferably the Youth Council Chair);
• A Youth Council/Programs staff person; and
• The Executive Director of the Local Workforce Investment Board

Although teams are applying to participate, each individual team member will need to complete an application form. Selections will be based primarily on the quality of the team composition and on overall diverse representation from the region. The applications will be reviewed by staff from AYPF, NYEC and regional U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration staff. Teams will be notified of acceptance no later than three weeks prior to the start of the Exchange.

For more information, visit the WIA Learning Exchange website at .

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