By Corey Nash, USCM Intern
June 16, 2008

Tulsa (OK) Mayor Kathy Taylor, Vice Chair for Workforce of The U.S. Conference of Mayors Jobs, Education and the Workforce Standing Committee, in collaboration with other local organizations, has launched a new program to enable young people to earn money while they train for careers in the construction industry and complete their high school diploma or GED. Taylor, Union Public Schools, Workforce Oklahoma, Career Tech, Tulsa Technology Center and a local construction consortium are working together to present the pilot program in partnership with the Association of Builders and Contractors (ABC), as represented by their affiliate, Tulsa-based Cantera Concrete Company.

The Dropout Recovery Program is a public-private partnership-based project that seeks to recover high school dropouts by providing the opportunity to receive high school credentials and job training in a high-growth industry sector to a group of 20 Tulsa-area youth, ages 18-22. “This is an amazing chance we have to restore hope to young people and build a strong, talented workforce for years to come,” said Taylor. “We have the opportunity to change lives forever.”

Participants will spend 12 weeks in formal academic training. At the same time, they will receive occupational skills training at the National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) in core construction skills and safety. During the training, participants will receive incentives for good attendance, including a $7 per hour wage for occupational training and $20 per week for academic training.

Those who demonstrate proficiency are given the opportunity to participate in a 160-hour paid, work-based learning experience with a local firm in Tulsa. A local construction company is slated to offer employment to each student who successfully completes the work-based learning program.

Tulsa is hosting a Dropout Prevention Summit on August 28 at the University of Tulsa in the Allen Chapman Activity Center. The summit presents an opportunity for cities and communities throughout the nation to create partnerships such as the Dropout Recovery program. Action plans will be created to reduce dropout rates as well as lead at-risk youth towards successful career endeavors. Taylor proclaims, “It is clear that we have some challenges ahead, but the summit is about keeping our promise to our students . . . We have to find innovative ways to keep young people engaged in school and it begins by preparing them for the future.”

Taylor has a successful track record of establishing public-private partnerships to develop a multitude of other education-related programs. Some model programs initiated through the Mayor’s Office include, “A Call to Action,” summit, Mayor’s Mentoring to the Max Initiative and the Tulsa Achieves Scholarship.