Business Collaborations to Better Prepare High School Students

Across the state of Ohio, schools and businesses are collaborating to better prepare students for their futures. Whether a students career path includes college degrees, industry credentials, apprenticeships, military enlistment, or a combination of these, our goal is to prepare students for success. There are many ways businesses can work with secondary educators to help students chart their own courses in high-quality, high-demand pathways that lead to jobs before, during, and after college. Our business partners are key in shaping the educational experiences of our students.

Helpful Documents & Links:

  • How Businesses Can Partner With Schools is an in-depth guide to help businesses get started!  Let us help connect you to educational partners looking to establish real relationships with community businesses; find out what they need and how you can help. Get involved with your local P-16 Council (in Lorain County, contact REACHigher). Talk with other business leaders in the community about how they’re partnering with local schools. Join a local district’s Business Advisory Council or Career Tech Industry Advisory Committee.
  • Provide Authentic Learning Experiences Through Work-Based Learning, which gives high school students real-world learning experiences while exploring career pathways. The Ohio Department of Education is partnering with Addeco to help remove barriers for companies to provide these authentic learning opportunities to our high school students.
  • Support the OhioMeansJobs-Readiness Seal, which allows high school graduates to demonstrate that they are ready for the next step in their career path. Whether that next step is into the workforce or the classroom at a postsecondary institution, you can help us better prepare students for the workplace.

Understanding Your Role on Business Advisory Councils (BAC):

Did you know that Ohio law requires every school district to have a Business Advisory Council (Ohio Revised Code 3313.82). BAC’s are comprised of professionals from secondary and post-secondary education and influential business and industry professionals. The BAC will advise school districts on local job market demands, inform them of new emerging career opportunities and help districts to develop curriculum that will allow them to create a talent pipeline.  Serving as advocates for the critical skill development our youth need to be ready for employment is critical to the success of our students, businesses, and communities.  District BAC’s should offer opportunities for students to engage with professionals. Providing a guest speaker series, work-based learning opportunities, mentoring and tutoring programs, or bring students to your site for business tours are just a few ways your can connect our youth to their future. Get involved with your local districts and help develop the talent pipeline of your future.

Identify Secondary Programs to Partner With

If you are interested in partnering with secondary education, please explore our local Career Pathways pages. Here you’ll be able to identify programs located within our local school districts, find their college Program of Study, and link out to their programs website.

At Lorain County JVS, please contact: Jason Kaczay
At Lorain High School, please contact: Mic Beccera
At EHOVE Career Center, please contact: Chelsea Moyer

For additional program contacts, please reach out to Deanna Hersko for assistance.