Skill Standards

States and communities across America are focusing on improving schools and raising student achievement. One important effort, supported by the U.S. Department of Education's Goals 2000 initiative, is the development of challenging academic standards in core academic subjects.

There are also efforts underway to develop and use industry based skill standards. In 1992 and 1993, a group of 22 industry partnerships of business, education, and labor received three-year grants from the Departments of Education and Labor to identify skill standards. In June 1996, the Department released a publication, with brief descriptions and a status update on the twenty-two projects.

Access to these and other industry skill standards--and additional information-- is available through: the National Skill Standards Board, Training Technology Resource Center (sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor's) Employment and Training Administration, and the National Center for Research in Vocational Education (sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education).

OTHER RESOURCES AVAILABLE:

Skill Standards Resources

A bibliography of useful publications covering a variety of topics related to skill standards development and applications.

We welcome your feedback; send comments, questions, and suggestions to ovae@inet.ed.gov