Central Texas High School Graduate Data Center: Year One Final Report

Central Texas High School Graduate Data Center: Year One Final Report

Authors: Deanna Schexnayder, Brendan Hill, Greg Cumpton, Esmeralda Garcia, Tara Smith, Christopher King, Hannah Gourgey and David Wilkinson
Date: March 2006
Publication Type: Report, 130pp.

Abstract: Globalization, technological innovation, and the ongoing restructuring of work have created a “skills premium” for well-educated and trained workers in the U.S. and locally. Currently, Texas has the highest percentage of adults without high school diplomas of any state and is also experiencing major demographic shifts that may exacerbate this trend.

There has never been a greater need for business and education to collaborate to prepare both current and emerging workers for success in their careers, starting with improved high school graduation rates and including higher rates of postsecondary education enrollment and completion. The Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce and the Texas Education Agency provided funding to Skillpoint Alliance and the Ray Marshall Center for the Study of Human Resources at the University of Texas Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs conduct research that could aid decision-making by local business and education officials and result in better education and labor market outcomes for local high school graduates. The Central Texas High School Graduate Data Center (Data Center) is being developed for that purpose. This report discusses findings, conclusions and recommendations based on the Data Center’s first year of work and describes plans for future research.