THE “EDUCATION” OF BUSINESS

COUNTY’S BUSINESS COMMUNITY

EDUCATION ECOSYSTEM.

YET BUSINESS LEADERS ARE OFTEN FRUSTRATED BY SLOW PROGRESS IN IMPROVING OUTCOMES.

Evidence of this was found in a study undertaken in 2009 by the Spartanburg Area Chamber of Commerce noting that “too few citizens in Spartanburg County, South Carolina were sufficiently well-educated to assure competitiveness in the knowledge economy of the 21st century."

The most striking data point supporting this concern was the percent of adults 25 and older having completed bachelor’s degrees: 19.2% ... this in comparison with a 22.7% state average and a national average of 27%. With high flying economies in the United States ranging upwards of 40%, the Chamber feared that Spartanburg County risked no longer remaining competitive in the economic development game.

THE COLLEGE HUB BOARD RECOGNIZED THAT IN ORDER TO MAKE SUBSTANTIAL AND SUSTAINED PROGRESS, OUR SHARED VISION MUST ADDRESS ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT LONG BEFORE YOUNG PEOPLE CHOOSE TO GO TO COLLEGE.

» Our vision must focus on every critical learning stage along the way, from the earliest years of childhood to post-secondary completion.

» Our vision must aim at a common set of achievement goals for each stage of learning; and seek to improve the quality and coverage of nonprofit services in support of these goals, identifying best practices and measuring results.

» And our vision must expand to include not only the bachelor’s degree, but also rigorous alternatives including technical certifications, apprenticeships, associate degrees ... all of which can prepare young people for productive lives and careers.