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For
Immediate Release Businesses and Educators Outline Connecticut State Scholars Program to Prepare Danbury Students for the Future Unless students take rigorous courses in high school, they’re more likely to end up in low-paying jobs. But students who take and complete more-challenging classes are better prepared to be successful after high school; require less remediation in college or in the workplace; and enter more highly-paid, satisfying careers. That was the message delivered today by business leaders and educators at a Danbury news conference to kick off the new Connecticut State Scholars program. The Connecticut Business & Industry Association’s (CBIA) Education Foundation, Danbury Public Schools, GE Commercial Finance, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Dow Chemical, the Greater Danbury Chamber of Commerce, the Housatonic Valley Economic Development Partnership and the national Center for State Scholars announced plans for the new program this morning in Danbury. John Rathgeber, executive vice president of CBIA, said, “Connecticut’s businesses need workers with the right skills, abilities and drive to keep them competitive in an increasingly global economy. The Connecticut State Scholars program is a perfect match for students and businesses, because it will help both achieve their goals.” Rathgeber continued, “The jobs in the next decade will range from some lower-wage jobs in the service sector to highly skilled technical and professional jobs. By 2010, according to the Connecticut Department of Labor, almost two out of three job openings in Connecticut will require education at the postsecondary level. We want to make sure that Connecticut students are prepared for those higher-wage jobs.” Rathgeber announced that CBIA was one of 12 state business associations selected nationwide to begin pilot programs to develop strategies and identify resources to help students prepare for higher-skill and higher-wage opportunities. “We are pleased to launch pilot programs for the Connecticut State Scholars initiative in New Haven, Danbury and at Vinal Technical High School in Middletown,” he said. “The initiative could not be possible without the support and encouragement of the business community,” said Rathgeber. “The Connecticut State Scholars program is unique because business leaders will go to the schools and deliver the message directly to the students that high school coursework does matter to their future academic, career and business success,” he said. Cristina Harter, managing director, Capital Markets, GE Vendor Financial Services, told the group that GE Commercial Finance, as a business partner, has taken the lead to bring this program into Danbury. “It is critical to businesses and to the health of our communities that young people be encouraged and motivated to attain higher levels of education. GE Commercial Finance is helping to launch this pilot program in Danbury to ensure that our students are prepared to meet the challenges of the future - challenges that include increased competition in a global marketplace. Today’s students must be prepared to enter the ever-changing marketplace, and this program will better prepare them for the highly skilled jobs needed in order for Connecticut companies to be competitive in the future.” Harter said, “The Connecticut State Scholars program will help ensure that students, parents and teachers understand that tomorrow’s workforce will be a major source of high-tech innovation, wealth creation and exciting opportunities that students must be prepared for. Unlike most programs which typically target the top or bottom 25 percent of students, this program addresses the middle 50 percent, which is an important segment of the population not usually targeted by such programs.” In Danbury, the program will be offered to eighth-grade students at Rogers Park and Broadview Middle Schools, and ninth-grade students at Danbury High School. Danbury School Superintendent Eddie Davis told reporters, “The Connecticut State Scholars program is simple: Students who complete more-rigorous and challenging courses are more successful in college and in the workplace than those who simply meet minimum graduation requirements. Encouraging the students in Danbury to participate in this program and offering more-challenging courses will provide them with a sound academic foundation for success.” Davis added, “While all students will benefit from the more rigorous coursework, the program is aimed at the majority of students in the middle of the class, those students who are not working up to their potential. The program is designed to motivate students who don’t see the benefit of working hard in school and taking tougher classes to participate in the program and enjoy greater success in the future.” CBIA has worked with the state Department of Education to approve course requirements for the pilot schools in Danbury. The core academic curriculum will be the standard for all students in the Connecticut State Scholars program. Students will have to complete the mandatory 15.5 credits in the outlined Connecticut State Scholars coursework with a minimum grade of C in all courses and complete the balance of state requirements to graduate. Connecticut State Scholars Core Course of Study:
CBIA is also working with the state Department of Higher Education to ensure that Connecticut State Scholars receive recognition for admissions and scholarship consideration. Caswall Price, corporate academic relations and diversity manager at Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., told the group, “If we are successful, everyone wins: The students get well-paying jobs, the employers hire the skilled workers they need, and the economy as a whole benefits.” Price said, “Business volunteers play a critical role in encouraging students to participate in the program. The volunteers will speak to students, before they make their high school course selections, on the importance of advanced skills in order to get a well-paying job and become productive members of the community and workforce.” Business volunteers will begin training programs in February and will start giving presentations in March to students at the Danbury middle and high schools. The Connecticut State Scholars program will begin in September 2004, with the students entering the ninth and 10th grades.
Visit the Connecticut State Scholars Web site at cbia.com or www.ctscholars.org ### CBIA is Connecticut’s largest business organization, with 10,000 members. Media wishing to attend the event should contact Nancy Andrews, CBIA media relations manager, at 860-244-1957 or andrewsn@cbia.com. 350 Church
Street · Hartford, CT 06103-1126 · cbia.com/newsroom
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