Berks Business Education Coalition
The Berks Business Education Coalition is an organization that joins the resources and expertise of the Berks County business community with those of the education community to initiate or support programs that best enhance the educational system.
The coalition was incorporated as a non-profit organization in 1992. Its board of directors consists of members of the education industry and the private sector. The coalition supports or sponsors many programs, including Adopt a School, Project 2000 PLUS, Teachers in the Workplace, Teacher Internships, and a countywide Career Pathways initiative. The Berks Business Education Coalition is a major supporter of Berks Career and Technology Center and provides ongoing communication regarding its programs and services.
Utility Business Education Coalition, Inc.
The Utility Business Education Coalition, Inc. is a national, CEO-led education coalition established by electric and natural gas utilities across the country. It represents a strategic, long-term commitment to strengthen community involvement, position youth for future success, transform local-level workforce development strategies, and enhance competitive opportunities for American business.
The Utility Business Education Coalition's goal is to assist business and educators to build effective, sustainable community organizations that can drive educational, employer and community changes so all students graduate from high school prepared for career options, post-secondary education and lifelong learning in the 21st century. The Utility Business Education Coalition is a partner with the Berks Business Education Coalition and has funded activities to support educational initiatives within the county that focus on the integration of academic and vocational education, and the continuous improvement process targeted toward career development.
Berks
Executive Council on Career and Technical Education
The Berks Executive Council
on Career and Technical Education is comprised of representatives from
business, education and community-based organizations. Its mission is
to provide leadership and direction to the Berks Career and Technology
Center on matters of general philosophy, objectives, program needs, and
to maintain a communication link between the school and the Berks County
labor market.
Examples of objectives addressed by the council include:
- to review annually the program offerings of the school and to make recommendations for program improvement
- to review and recommend alternate funding sources for the school
- to enhance public awareness of vocational program offerings
- to bridge the gap between the training needs of the business community and the programs available through BCTC
Berks Council on Career and Technical Education
The Berks Council on Career and Technical Education
is the companion council to the Executive Council and is charged with
the mission of providing a critical communication link between the school
and the business community for each program offered by BCTC. Each program
has an Occupational Advisory Committee that provides advice to teachers
and school personnel regarding program operations, curriculum and instructional
equipment. Each committee reviews all curriculum revisions and equipment
purchases for its program prior to implementation.
United Labor Council of Reading and Berks County
Berks Career and Technology Center and the United Labor Council are in the process of developing articulation agreements with various trade unions. The agreements would enable students to enter an apprenticeship with advanced standing upon graduation and receive credit for knowledge and skills already attained. In addition, pre-apprenticeship guidelines are being established to provide job shadowing and internship experiences for students, as well as co-op experiences between the junior and senior years that would count toward apprenticeship.
BCTC students benefit also from the opportunity to tour the plumbers', pipefitters' and sheetmetal workers' union halls in Philadelphia, as well as the carpenters' union hall in Lebanon and the sheetmetal workers' union hall in Shoemakersville.
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