A Historical and Contextual Look at Education and Workforce Development. Working Paper WP/05-02

Overview & Synopsis

The California Postsecondary Education Commission is currently producing a series of policy briefs examining the nexus between workforce development and postsecondary education. The research question "How does California's postsecondary education system contribute to the needs of the state's economy and its future?" will serve as the foundation for each of the briefs in the series. This first brief gives a historical context and summary of workforce development and education in California. It looks at California's education and workforce development systems from a historic and contemporary viewpoint and will focus on the role education has played in workforce development. Section one outlines the current workforce development system in California, including its components and a definition of key terms. Section two describes the changing role of K-12 education as California shifted from an agrarian economy to an industrial economy, then to one dominated by information and service industries. The last section highlights postsecondary education's role in workforce development with a brief summary of the 1960 Master Plan. Appended are: (1) Outline of Briefs in the Series; and (2) The Nexus between Postsecondary Education and the Workforce--Major Actions. (Contains 4 displays.)